DPOV

As a guardian, I'd never cared much for surprises.

In our line of work, a surprise could be the death of me. Surprises made you vulnerable and left you open to attack.

Of all the people in the world, I'd expect Rose to understand that better than anyone. But if that were true then we wouldn't be doing this right now.

"Oh for the love of God Comrade, quit your whining already! One little surprise never killed anyone."

She couldn't see it through my blindfold but I was rolling my eyes.

"I beg to differ." I grumbled, knowing full well it was a useless argument. Once Rose got an idea in her head there was no changing it.

I knew that she had heard me, but she chose not to dignify me with a response.

"It's your birthday Dimitri; can't you at least pretend to enjoy this? Lissa went to a lot of trouble to throw you this party, and it would break her heart to know you hated it."

What I hated was when she did that! She always knew the best way to get to me, and in this case, it was using my own guilt against me.

But that was Roza for you.

No one ever claimed the woman played fair.

Rose had figured out years ago that I despised celebrating my birthday. I just didn't see the point. It was ten days before Christmas and that had always worked against my favor.

While all the other kids at my school got to celebrate with parties and their friends, my birthday always fell during Christmas break when the school had let out for the holidays.

My mother always did her best to make it special, but for a boy stuck in a house with 5 women, sometimes all I really wanted was a little more testosterone around.

Just another one of the many ways Alexander's absence had screwed me…

Despite all my arguments to the contrary, I just couldn't seem curb my curiosity. Ever since that letter came, it was all I could think about.

It didn't help that Roza left the damn thing out for me in plain sight. She wanted me to read it, and I was coming dangerously close to cracking.

More than anything I wanted an explanation, especially after he'd acted to selflessly to save Roza. But more than that, I wanted to stay angry with him, because anything less felt like a betrayal.

I couldn't do that to my mother. Not after everything that man did to her.

"Okay we're here." Rose announced, pulling me to a stop.

With the blindfold still in place, she leaned up on her toes to kiss me and I decided to take advantage.

If I was going to be forced to endure a night of birthday festivities, then I was at least going to have a little fun before I doing it.

Much to Rose's surprise, I threw a little more passion into the kiss then the setting warranted. Wrapping one arm securely around her waist, I let the other one grab hold of her neck. As the kissing intensified I let my hands roam and tangle themselves in her hair while Rose's body melted into mine. I waited just long enough to know that Rose was lost it in before I abruptly ended the kiss.

I heard Rose gaps in protest and a victorious smile crept onto my lips.

"Ass!" Rose said smacking me playfully in the arm; although Rose's version of playful still packed a mean punch.

"I'll make it up to you later." I whispered huskily, and thanks to our close proximity, I got the satisfaction of feeling her shudder.

"Damn right you will."

I was still busy chuckling at her disgruntled tone when she led me through the now open door.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled and I used the hand that wasn't holding Rose's to release the blindfold.

As my eyes came into focus, I scanned the crowded room that was filled with my loved ones, and was surprised by a few of the faces I found.

"Mama?" I asked in shock, even though I was certain it was her.

"There's my birthday boy!" She grinned widely, locking her smaller arms around me in a tight grip.

I turned to look at Rose and found she was watching our exchange fondly, and slightly smug.

"I told you not all surprises were a bad thing."

Shaking my head I smiled, before mouthing 'thank you' over the top of my mother's head.

When my mother finally released me, I saw a toddle of brown curls come barreling over to me.

"Happy Birthday Uncle Dimka!" Zoya shouted as I scooped her up off the ground. Behind her I saw Karolina walking over. "Where's Paul?" I asked when she was close enough to do so.

She and Mama exchanged a knowing look and laughed.

"You shouldn't have to look too hard. Just find the closest girl his age." Mama chuckled.

"He may look like you did at that age Dimka, but he's more charming than you were. I swear we have to beat the girls off of him with a stick!" Karolina added and beside me I heard Rose giggle.

I gave her a look of mock hurt and she made an effort to stifle her laughs.

Effort being the operative word there…

The usual gang was all present as well, along with a few other additions. Since it was now Christmas break, Eddie and Jill had returned from Lehigh to spend the holidays.

Both of Rose's parents had returned to town, and I suspected they were the one's responsible for flying in my family. As nice as it would have been to have the whole family here, we were short a few people. Sonya hadn't been able to get the time off of work so soon after the wedding and Yeva had stayed behind to help her with her child.

As the party moved into full swing, it did so in Lissa-like fashion Rose wasn't kidding when she said Lissa had went all out.

For most of the evening we all chatted lightly and after a delicious dinner of Christian's bacon wrapped meatloaf, they all insisted I open my presents.

Like most of the things I wanted, my gifts were pretty practical; a couple of new shirts, a few new western's and Rose had even managed to find a collector's edition of every John Wayne cowboy movie ever made.

But when it seemed that all of the presents had been unwrapped, Adrian announced he had one last gift to deliver.

"I know how disappointed you both were when you couldn't find out the sex of your baby, but it just so happens I can help with that."

"Seriously?" Rose blurted out excitedly before glancing down at her large belly. "How!"

Adrian's grin widened into a full blown smile after exchanging a knowing look with Sonya Karp.

"Aura's Little Dhamphir. I can see your baby's Aura."

Rose sat there gaping at him with an open mouth.

"You mean to tell me you've known this whole time and you never said anything?" She asked in mock outrage.

At least I think it was mock outrage…these days it was hard to tell.

But either way, her mood didn't faze Adrian. Nothing usually did.

"Not all along, but for a few weeks, yeah."

"Why the hell wouldn't you say something?" Rose yelled at him shooting to her feet.

Yep….definitely not mock outrage. She was genuinely pissed.

"Because I wanted it to be a surprise. Besides, there's no way I could have bought Dimitri a better gift then telling him he's having a son."

A son!

Rose, who was still standing dropped one hand to her large stomach and when I turned to look at her I found there were tears in her eyes.

"We're having a son" she murmured softly, and a few of the tears escaped her eyes.

I was just as emotionally chocked up as she was, so I couldn't even tease her about the tears. Instead I just looked back at my beautiful wife adoringly and smiled.

"We're having a son Milaya." And I pressed a loving kiss to her full and smiling lips.

Olena's POV

As I watched my son and his wife rejoice in their good news, I couldn't help but smile.

Those two had searched long and hard to find happiness, and I could think of no two people more deserving of it.

As a mother, you only want what's best for your child, and the day I met Roza, I knew Dimka had found it. Of course at the time, I thought he had found her too late.

To some mothers, their age difference would have been troublesome, but it never bothered me. Even at such a young age, I knew Rose was every bit Dimka's equal.

She shared his strength and perseverance, not to mention his blind devotion. She had foolishly followed my boy to the ends of the earth, all to fulfill some unspoken promise. And even though that the promise was the reason I had him back today, it had been foolish all the same. She was just a child at the time and I could hardly believe it when Yeva told me.

Yes, finding Roza was the best thing that ever happened to my boy, and I was grateful for it every day. The love and joy she brought to him brought back the son I hadn't seen in years.

Not since Alexander.

It's the reason why when Rose called me recently I was speechless. It had been years since I'd thought of Alexander and I didn't quite know how to feel about it now.

Rose had told me what he had done for her and my childhood, and I was truly relieved. There was a time in my life when I had thought him a good man and it was nice to know that man still existed.

She also told me of the letter he sent and Dimka's reluctance to read it.

My boy was loyal to a fault and it wasn't difficult to understand his reasoning.

By reading that letter, he was opening up the possibility for forgiveness, and to do so would feel like a betrayal to me.

My foolish boy.

Until his son was born he could never understand this, but in time I knew he would. All any good parent wants if for their child to know peace, and if reading that letter would give him that, then so be it.

When the evening finally began to wind down, I suggested we take a walk.

The Moroi Court was a beautiful place and I'd had little opportunity in my life to explore it.

For most, the frigid December air would be uncomfortable, but it did little to bother me. I suppose that's one of the benefits that come from living in the tundra.

As we walked along the cobblestone paths, I let him point out his favorite places. The Moroi Court was rich with history and Dimka seemed well informed about all of it.

My little bookworm.

But after a while, my legs grew weary, and we took up residence on a bench that overlooked a large fountain. Only after we had both settled in comfortably did I pull out the envelope.

He turned to look at me in mild curiosity and his eyes hardened when he realized what I was holding.

"That letter is of no interest to me." He said stubbornly. "It changes nothing."

"How can you be sure?" I challenged and he deliberately rolled his eyes.

I gave him a chastising slap on the head for disrespecting me and he offered an embarrassed smile. I didn't care how many birthdays he had, he'd never be too old for me to bend over my knee.

"I'm sorry Mama, but I see no point in reading it. It won't erase what he did."

"Be that as it may, it doesn't mean the letter has no purpose." I argued and he let out a dejected sigh.

"He doesn't deserve our forgiveness Mama, not after everything he put you through."

And when the words left his mouth, I knew Roza was right. He was doing this for me, out of loyalty.

"There are many things in my life that I'm not proud of, but being your mother isn't one of them. Reading that letter won't make you a bad son Dimka, it never could. What it can do however is bring you peace of mind. In just a few short months you'll have a son of your own, and finding closure may just make you a better father."

I could tell his resolve was wavering, but the next question he asked still surprised me.

"Have you forgiven him?" he asked.

And it wasn't until that moment that I realized I had.

I wasn't angry anymore and I didn't harbor any ill will. I had made peace with my past and I wanted my son to do the same.

It took me a few seconds to realize he was still waiting, but once I did I answered honestly.

"Yes, I have forgiven him. And it's made all the difference in the world. I'm not angry anymore Dimka and I am a better person for it. Just read the letter son…please. Read it and try to do the same."

I watched him wage an internal war before he gave me a timid smile.

"If that's what you really want." He sighed and I stood up and kissed his forehead.

Just as I was about to walk away, he grabbed my hand to stop me.

"I love you Mama….and thank you."

I looked back at my boy fondly and I just knew; it wouldn't matter if he was 8 or 28, that boy will always melt my heart.

"I love you too Son. Take your time; you know where to find me."

And with one last tender smile, I left him to it.

Okay people, sound off on your thoughts. Are you glad Rose and Dimitri are having a boy?

Reviews Please : )