Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.
Chapter 26
Mel POV
I woke up to a banging on the door of our apartment, effectively waking the girls, thus waking Adrian and I. I was about to be very angry but then I remembered that today I was getting married to my soul mate. I had forgotten that all of the women were meeting me here and Adrian was meeting the guys over at Dimitri's. I went down the stairs to get the door after making sure that Adrian was awake. When I opened the door all of the women were standing there waiting rather impatiently. I ushered them into the apartment and I went upstairs to get the girls dressed and ready. I fed them and brought them with me downstairs as Adrian was getting ready to go over to Dimitri's. I gave him a goodbye kiss and he kissed each of the girls on the forehead and smiled at me.
"I'll be waiting at the altar for you. I'll be the one wearing the tux and standing with the priest." He said smiling. I laughed at him.
"Don't get confused up there. I'll be the one in the long white dress." I replied and we both laughed. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Lissa was standing there tapping her foot and waiting impatiently for Adrian to leave so that we could start getting ready. I closed the door behind him and went to endure my dose of cosmetic torture. We had to stop several times to tend to Sophia and Alyssa but the day went smoothly. I hated getting all the hair and makeup done but I promised myself that this was a one-time deal and I'd never be this dolled up again. After several hours of makeup, hair, dresses and shoes we were all ready. I was waiting for time to go to the church for the wedding when I caught a shimmer in the corner of the room. There before me were Anna and Vladimir, my mother and my father. I hugged each one of them.
"My dear, you didn't honestly think that we would miss your wedding did you?" My parents said. I was on the verge of tears. When Olena came to get me she was surprised that there were others in the room with me. We got ready just outside the church and I asked my father if he would give me away. He said yes of course but I had to talk to Abe. I found him minutes later.
"Abe I know that you planned on giving me away, but I wanted to ask if mom and dad could do it instead?" I asked and Abe smiled looking at me and my parents.
"Of course my dear, I would prefer it if it means that they can be a part of your big day." I smiled at him and he kissed my cheek. "You look beautiful my dear, just like your mother."
The music started signaling that it was time to walk in. I had my mom and dad on either side of me as we walked into the church. I saw Adrian's face register shock and then he smiled widely. My parents gave me away and took their seats to watch the ceremony. Adrian and I had a simple service and it was over quickly. We kissed, sealing our marriage vows and quickly exited to the reception. My parents went with us along with Anna and Vlad. Soon it was time for speeches and I groaned thinking about what people would say. Rose was the first to stand for the speeches as the maid of honor.
"Adrian and Melissa. I honestly didn't see this day for you two when we all met Mel. It has been over a year since we met and I found that I had a cousin. I can honestly say that there has never been a dull moment with you around." Everyone laughed including me. It was true. "You two were made for each other. You are the other half of Adrian's heart Melissa. I have never seen him as happy as he is now that you are in his life. You are my cousin and both of you are dear friends. I love you both." Rose sat down and Dimitri got up as the best man.
"Roza said it all when she said that you two completed each other. Melissa, when we met you we were all captivated by your fighting spirit, but I saw the change in Adrian almost instantly. You both will always be family to those in this room. I'm going to keep it short and sweet because that's all that really needs to be said." We all laughed as he went to sit down. I got up before anyone could stand and took the mike. I had a surprise for Adrian. I had secretly asked Vlad if he could do this for me and him.
"Adrian, I know that this is a little unorthodox, but anyone that knows me can say that that's how I do things." Everyone laughed. "I wanted to do something for you Adrian. This is my gift to you. Tatiana Ivashkov." I called and there was a shimmer before me and Tatiana stood in front of me facing the crowd. The whole room gasped and Adrian stood from the head table and came towards her. He touched her tentatively as if she would vanish. He embraced her tightly as he realized that she was real. "I wanted her here because I knew that you wanted her here too. I want you and our children to have all that they want. I can't give her back to you but I can give you this moment with her." Adrian was crying tears of joy. Soon it was time for her to go and as she disappeared, he came up to me and captured my lips in a kiss. When we came up for air, he had taken the mike.
"Melissa, I want to thank you for everything that you do. Not just for our little family, but the rest of our slightly dysfunctional family." Everyone laughed. "When we met, I was instantly attracted to you. You are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside and have a charm that makes others instantly believe there is still hope and beauty in this world. You have made everyone in this room's life better just by being you." He took my hand and kissed it. "I love you and our children more than anything in this world and would be lost without you and our children." He said.
We finally got around to the dancing and I danced the father/daughter dance with my father. We danced a lot. I danced with Adrian of course, but I also danced with my father, Vlad, Dimitri, Christian, Mikhail, Eddie and many others. We hadn't planned on a honeymoon because the girls were still too young to be left with others and I still fed them. When the reception was over and the guests had gone, we took the girls back up to the apartment. We put the girls to bed soon after and we showered and got ready for bed. We wrapped in each other's arms and made love slowly and thoroughly. Once our energy was spent, we fell into darkness together.
XXXXX Four Months Later XXXXXX
It had been four months since the wedding and things were going smoothly for a change. The council had approved the continuation of the Moroi offensive magic program due to several recent attacks where it was used. These attacks were smaller than those at court but it was understood that if the Moroi didn't participate in the fighting that there would be a great deal of lost lives. I was now six months pregnant with our little boy and the pregnancy was going much smoother than it did with the twins. Last month Lissa and Christian had gotten married and they were expecting a little girl shortly after our little boy is born. No one knew that she was pregnant and she only announced it a month after our wedding. I gave them the keys to the house in Russia for them to use on their honeymoon. Rose and Dimitri had to come along as guardians. Adrian and I got another apartment that would accommodate our kids better. We had a routine of everyone coming here for breakfast while they were gone and when they returned a week later, everything went back to normal.
XXXXX Three Months Later XXXXX
I am nine months pregnant and everyone is watching me like a hawk. Our little boy would be here soon. I got out of an empty bed and walked down the hall to the girls' room. They were just beginning to stir and I knew that Adrian was downstairs making breakfast with Christian. I bathed, and dressed the girls before heading downstairs with them. Rose met me before I made it down the stairs and took Alyssa from me so I could grab the railing with my free hand. I was right at the bottom of the stairs when my little boy decided to kick my spine. I flinched and gripped the rail. Rose noticed my expression and called for Eddie who was closest at the moment. He took Sophia for me and he and Rose used their free hand to steer me towards the couch. I had so much trouble getting comfortable and my back was absolutely killing me. I stood momentarily and made it over to the bathroom on the ground floor. Once I had finished Adrian found me coming out of the bathroom and told me that breakfast was ready. I really wasn't hungry but I tried to eat a little. Adrian and the others noticed my lack of appetite.
"Melissa, are you okay dear? You've barely touched breakfast." Abe asked.
"I'm just not really hungry at the moment. The baby is moving a lot and it feels like he is using my spine for a field goal." I said. Janine widened her eyes a little and shot a worried look at Abe that I didn't miss. I started to stand from the table when pain ripped through me. Everyone that was sitting at the table were suddenly hovered around me in concern. I took a couple of quick breaths as the pain subsided and noticed the pool of liquid on the floor. "Adrian, it's time for you to be a dad again. Rose, Mia get the girls. Janine I need a clean gown from my room. Adrian I'm trying to get my walls up so you won't feel as much, but I can't promise anything. Dimitri, when I get changed you are going to have to carry me to the infirmary." Everyone nodded and did what I requested. Janine also brought the diaper bag for the girls and the bag for the infirmary. I handed those things to Adrian and I stepped out of sight so I could change. I wasn't even trying to make it to the bathroom right now. We made it to the infirmary as another contraction hit. I had my walls up as best I could but Adrian still experienced some of the pain with me.
Several hours later I was holding our little boy. Adrian was beaming and there were tiny happy tears hanging in his eyes. I handed our boy over to Adrian after he was fed and we tried to decide on a name. We finally decided on a suitable name and ushered the rest of the family in for introductions. My mother and father both made an appearance and held their grandson before they had to go. Once everyone was in the room I introduced them to our little man.
"This handsome little man is Alexander Samson Mazur Ivashkov." I said. I still used the Mazur name and I had all of the kids named that way so that they would always know where they came from. I had talked about it with Adrian when we were married and I kept the Mazur name but added the Ivashkov name. I was still addressed as Guardian Mazur so everything worked fine. Alex was passed around to everyone in the room and we talked about anything and everything. I finally dozed while the others were in the room but they didn't mind. Adrian watched over Alex while I slept. I woke several times so that he could be fed. The girls were no longer getting milk from me but they would still get blood. They were eleven months now so it was a little easier.
Two days later we were bringing our son home. We had moved into a slightly larger apartment that could accommodate our growing family. The girls had their room and there was a nursery for our baby boy. It was a little tricky getting all the kids to sleep at the same times of day, but they were all great kids. Everyone had dinner that night at our apartment to welcome us home. I tried to help but they wouldn't let me which I didn't like, but I did kind of have my hands full with Alex, Sophia and Alyssa. The girls were just getting to where they could walk steadily and they began to get into trouble because of that.
Lissa was nearly nine months pregnant and she was banished to the couch with me while the others prepared dinner. Now she understood what I meant all those times about feeling useless. I was sitting on the couch with Lissa and Alex while the girls were playing in the floor in front of us. I was sitting on the couch holding Alex when I was suddenly in a vision. Another attack was coming. All the Strigoi were furious that they were losing numbers faster than they could create new ones. There were several thousand Strigoi left in the US and they were setting their sights on court for a chance to get to Lissa. This attack would destroy us or them. I knew I had to fight and we needed all the Moroi and guardians to work together if we were going to survive this one. They were searching for the tunnels that led away from court so that when the Moroi evacuated they could kill them. If they didn't evacuate, they would follow the tunnels into court, bypassing the wards. They were coordinating with the Strigoi in other countries to attack simultaneously so that I couldn't be at all of the attacks. They would use the same strategies there as well. This attack could mean the extinction of the Moroi and Damphir races. It could also mean the end of the Strigoi. There would always be some Moroi somewhere that would turn willingly so the Strigoi would never completely disappear from our world, but this was as close as it could get. When the vision cleared, everyone was in the room looking at me in concern for what I saw.
"I will tell you but right now is not the time. We need to eat first and I will tell you I promise." I said. I could tell that they wanted to know now but they respected that I would tell them soon so they let it go. We sat down to dinner and everyone was slightly curious at what I had seen. Dinner wrapped up quickly and I got them into the living room. Everyone looked at me expectantly and I sighed in frustration. I placed Alex in the playpen where he could sleep and I sent the memory to all of the adults in the room. "This will be our biggest fight in our history. I really don't know the outcome of this one. Several courts are to be attacked simultaneously and I obviously can't be everyplace at once. I just don't know how to handle this one. There are going to be anywhere from five to seven thousand here in this court." I sighed in frustration and as the memory finished for them, they were all speechless. Adrian looked at our children and I, and I could see his worry for all of us.
"We need to alert the guardian council and make preparations." Dimitri said and I nodded.
"I need to go to the wards first and get more information. It won't take long." I looked over at Janine and Abe. "Can you two watch the kids for a while so I can make preparations?"
"Of course Melissa, take all of the time you need." Abe said. I went upstairs to change and came back to find everyone waiting for me. Lissa agreed to stay here with Janine and the kids and everyone else was coming to the wards and the council meeting. Christian was taking Lissa's place as King for the meeting. I walked to the wards to get the necessary information from my mother. I saw the attack in the vision but I had no idea when it would take place. As I stepped over the wards, my mother appeared instantly before me.
"Mother, when is this attack supposed to happen?" I asked her.
"The Strigoi are on the move. They will breach the wards in two weeks. They will gather near court. You might be able to locate them and restore or kill as many as you can before the attack. Right now they are expected to have numbers of 7000 when they reach the wards." She said sadly. We talk a little more over strategies and I stepped back into the wards and we walk straight to Guardian Croft's office. I didn't even bother knocking, I stormed in with purpose and Croft took one look at me and knew that something was up.
"Guardian Mazur, what can I do for you?" He asked.
"Call and emergency council meeting now! We have a big problem and we need to alert the council here and other courts. I will explain all the details at the meeting but we need to have the meeting now." I stated. He had learned not to doubt me and immediately called to setup an emergency meeting. Within minutes everyone was heading over to the council meeting room. I decided that my talent of showing memories would be useful here and once the councils were all here I decided to use my ability.
"I know that this is a little strange but please humor me." I instructed them on what I wanted them to do and they complied, forming a circle and linking hands. "Instead of trying to explain what I have seen in my vision, I figured that it would be more effective if I showed you." I concentrated on the memory and sent it through them. I watched the expressions on their faces change from doubt and disbelief to horror and fear. When the memory was finished they were all silent. Finally croft was the first to recover.
"How many are we expecting here?" He asked.
"There are several attacks planned for several of the world's courts to happen simultaneously. The attack here we expect 7000 at the moment. We have two weeks to prepare and maybe attempt to reduce the numbers. If I can locate them we can reduce their numbers. Right now my suggestion is to alert the other courts and have them take precautions. Everyone must fight or we will all die." I stated. "I need to see all of the restored and fighting Moroi first thing in the morning to accelerate their trainings some more. Any guardians that wish to participate may do so as well." They nodded and we began to work on strategies to locate and eliminate the Strigoi before they make it here to court. After the meeting, we all went back to our apartment and everyone went home to theirs. As Adrian and I lay in bed that night, I was worried about how this fight would turn out. Life for us will change as a result of this fight whether we win or lose. Adrian wrapped his arms around me and held me close.
"Don't worry baby, you will figure this out and I will be there right beside you. Do what you need to do and I will watch the girls and Alex. Just promise that you will come back to us." He kissed me softly and tightened his grip around my waist.
"I promise babe that I will do all that I can to come back to you and our children." I said honestly.
"That is all I can ask of you. Get some sleep Mel. Tomorrow is going to be a long day." He said and we kissed again. We both drifted into darkness. Adrian had to get up a few times and brought Alex to me to feed him. Alyssa and Sophia were mostly sleeping through the night now. We drifted back to sleep wrapped in each other's arms.