"You don't want Lara anymore," Eddie concluded flatly.

"Of course, we want Lara," Dimitri growled, absolutely furious at Eddie's suggestion.

"Why? You're having one of your own, now" Eddie challenged, picking Lara out of the bath and cuddling her against him. "Why do you need Lara?" Cold and disoriented in Eddie's embrace, Lara started to wail.

"Lara is everything to us," Rose growled, plucking Lara from Eddie's arms and swaddling her in the heated towel Dimitri held ready. It didn't escape anyone's attention that as soon as Lara was in her mother's arms, she calmed down immediately. "Being pregnant with another baby makes no difference to how we feel about Lara," Rose announced stiffly. "As far as we're concerned, she's still our baby girl. We adore Lara, and can't wait to give her a playmate."

"What if you love your own more? I won't have Lara loved less." Eddie looked at Rose and Dimitri angrily.

Dimitri snorted. "You don't need to worry about that. Roza has been fretting ever since we found out. She loves Lara so much, she's worried she won't care for the new baby as much!"

"Really?" Eddie asked, his acrimony displaced by surprise.

"I love Lara like she is my own," Rose spelled out. "I love her absolutely. I can't imagine being able to care for another child as much as I do her." Rose started sniffling, clutching Lara to her as she turned to Dimitri and then the floodgates opened, and she sobbed against his chest. Eddie looked at Rose in astonishment as she blubbered. While Dimitri was becoming familiar with a pregnant, hormonal and over-emotional Rose, it was a complete surprise to Eddie.

"I'm one of four, and Mama says it's common when a mother prepares to welcome a second child. She's assured me with each new child, the love expands," Dimitri murmured to Eddie in explanation. "My sister was worried about loving her second child as much as her first. Apparently, it's very normal." Dimitri wrapped his arms around Rose and Lara, whispering soothing things to them both. Finally calming down, Rose dried her eyes, not meeting Eddie's as she took Lara through to the bedroom she shared with Dimitri, quickly putting a fresh diaper on Lara before dressing her in a clean sleepsuit. One of the ones he'd sent for Lara, Eddie noticed.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want her to ever feel second best or not as good," Eddie explained apologetically after he'd followed Rose through to where she was clothing Lara.

"It won't be that way," Dimitri promised solemnly. "As far as we're concerned, we're welcoming baby number two into our family. We love Lara completely, and we'll feel the same way about the new baby, too."


Her Majesty sat at the head of the smaller formal dining table in the palace. Usually set to accommodate between twenty and twenty-four, today, Christmas Day, the table was set for one. It would have been easier to eat at the smaller breakfast table closer to her apartment, but tradition dictated Christmas was always in the smaller formal Royal dining room, so here was where she'd eat.

Palace kitchen attendants smiled courteously as they placed numerous small dishes in front of Vasilisa. Presenting every imaginable Christmas delicacy, the plates were plentiful in number yet diminutive in size. Each was a portion for one. Nodding as the servers departed, Lissa asked her Guardians to step outside, maintaining her dignified pose as she sat at the head of the Royal dining table, preparing to eat her Christmas meal completely alone.

Finally unaccompanied, the Moroi Queen started her feast. The finest candles were burning. The linen was thick, starched and positioned beside the crystal and flatware faultlessly. The food and presentation of same were undoubtedly perfection. Yet Lissa barely noticed any of it. She drank more than she ate before picking up two of the bottles of wine, walking the deserted corridors through to her chambers flanked by her Guardians. There was no one else to see, or care, what she was doing. Switching on Netflix, dejected and alone, she changed into a pair of pajamas. Christmas through to New Years was going to be getting smashed and watching re-runs, and Lissa knew she couldn't blame anyone but herself.


"I would never have picked you as a The Sound of Music fan," Adrian teased, looking at Frankie as she sat on the sofa opposite him. She was flopped on the couch in their borrowed accommodation, sitting beside Christian. Watching the two of them, Adrian wondered whether either of them realized how often they sat or stood close together. It was like watching magnets – when she moved so did he and visa versa.

"So how did you score this place?" Christian asked Adrian. When Adrian had insisted he knew the perfect place to spend Christmas and New Years, the group had gone with it. The opportunity to visit somewhere warded, with Guardians and house staff, was appealing as it meant Frankie and Vitsin could enjoy some well-deserved time off.

"One of my second cousins lives here," Adrian explained. "They go to Court for Christmas and New Years, so they were happy for us to use the place."

"It's stunning," Frankie admitted, turning to look through the enormous windows at the snow falling over the historic buildings. It truly was like a Christmas card.

They'd arrived the night before, and Frankie had almost swooned when she saw her room. Boasting a huge queen-sized bed, topped with the softest and fluffiest duvet she had ever seen, Frankie had stripped and crawled into bed, thrilled to know she could sleep as late as she wanted tomorrow, Adrian and Christian being guarded by the house's Guardians for the duration of their stay.

She still couldn't believe they were in Salzburg – the place where The Sound of Music had been filmed. Growing up poor and Dhampir, her mother hadn't been able to show Frankie the world like she'd hoped, so their thing had been watching Hollywood classics, Frankie learning her love of travel through glimpses of foreign places on the silver screen.

"Glad you like," Adrian said with a satisfied grin.

"I more than like it. I love it!" Frankie declared, standing up and crossing to where Adrian sat, leaning down and giving him a long hug. "It's been my dream to see here since I was a little girl!"

Initially pleased to see Frankie's joy, Christian felt angry and bitter witnessing Frankie with her arms wrapped around Adrian. In a startling moment of clarity, Christian realized he wanted to be the one with his arms wrapped around the beautiful young Guardian and bringing such a happy smile to her face.

"No worries," Adrian said, carefully disengaging himself, all the while noticing the jealousy emanating from Christian. He might not be ready to acknowledge his feelings, Adrian noted; nonetheless Christian's interest in Frankie was getting stronger.

"Do you want to watch the movie?" Frankie asked shyly, looking at Christian as she returned to sit beside him on the sofa. "I haven't seen it in years. I love it, and Mom and I always watched it at Christmas…"

"I don't think I've seen it," Christian admitted, placated now Frankie's attention was back on him again.

"Seriously?! Oh my God – it's a classic you have to see it!"

"I've seen it like a hundred times, so count me out," Adrian said, giving Vitsin a look that he should also make himself scarce.

"K," Frankie replied without turning around as the other two left, finding the remote and searching through their host's movie collection until she found the classic.

"I'm warning you now, Ozera – I can't sing, but I forget that when I watch this."

"I don't care how you sound," Christian replied, a look on his face that was more of a smile than a smirk.

"I'll remind you of that when your ears are bleeding," Frankie retorted playfully, using another remote to dim the lights before throwing a blanket over the two of them. They weren't touching, although there was less than half an inch between them as they sat beside each other, watching the snowcapped mountains morph into beautiful lake filled valleys and overhead town vistas before Julie Andrews twirled, singing on the top of a green grassed hill.


"There are seven adults here," Eddie said looking at the mountain of food on the farmhouse table in front of him for Christmas lunch. Roasts, pies, vegetables, salads, and sweets; there was anything one could wish for. "We won't be able to eat through all of this!"

"I'm willing to give it a go," Rose responded with a smirk, eyeing the food optimistically. Everything looked amazing. Mostly a result of Dimitri and Pavel's culinary efforts, Alberta helped out a bit, too – the result being enough food to feed an army. Or in their case, six Dhampir, a Moroi, and a Dhampir baby.

Lara was situated at the head of the table in a high chair. Rose was seated on one side, Eddie on Lara's other. Everyone was comfortable and at ease, the shock of yesterday's pregnancy announcement forgotten.

When they'd come down from bathing Lara and shared their exciting news with Alberta, Abe and Janine had accepted Eddie's presence, and precedence, without question - leading Rose to suspect a conversation had occurred between Alberta and her parents. While the three still jostled for grandparent cuddle time with Lara, they understood that when it came to little Lara Belikov, Rose and Dimitri came first, Eddie a close second. Rose had absolutely no doubt her parents knew the truth of the situation; however, they'd asked no questions, so she had not needed to tell any lies - and that worked for everyone.

Lara had slept in her porta cot overnight, waking to a mountain of presents downstairs on Christmas morning. The adults exchanged gifts, too. However it really was all about Lara – Rose taking numerous photos as Lara sat propped between Dimitri's outstretched legs, Eddie passing her gift after gift, helping her unwrap them one by one. Surrounded by doting adults, and a mountain of colored paper, Lara loved being the center of attention.

When Pavel and Dimitri moved through into the kitchen to start preparing the Christmas feast, Abe and Eddie transported Lara's cot upstairs from the van. The unlikely pair spent the morning putting it together in the corner of Rose and Dimitri's room, Rose surprising them by snapping photos as the two scrutinized a not particularly helpful instruction diagram. The crib finally assembled, mattress and linen also in place, Eddie and Abe proudly posed on either end of their achievement. Both were proud Lara would enjoy the fruit of their labor that night.

Rose, Janine, and Alberta spent the morning catching up, Alberta and Janine taking turns cuddling and playing with Lara. Rose was tired, so the additional help with Lara was welcome. By the time lunch rolled around, everyone was happy and ready to eat.

"Here's to Lara's first Christmas!" Abe said with a grin, raising his glass along with the other adults. "And to family! It's a delight to have us all here to celebrate with her today!"


Christian woke to find Frankie sleeping against him. One of his arms was wrapped around her waist, the other was resting somewhat higher, one of his hands draped across Frankie's soft, round breasts. Warm and comfy beneath the blanket, they'd enjoyed three hours of The Sound of Music. After a quick toilet break, they'd sat back down together to watch Frankie's other favorite old-time musical – The King and I.

They must have fallen drifted off because Christian couldn't remember the end of the second movie. Now, reclined against the end of the sofa, Frankie lying back asleep in his embrace, Christian felt the most at peace he had in a long time. Frankie's toned, sexy body felt so right in Christian's arms. If he hadn't been a married man, he would have certainly tried something. As it was, Christian lay there, relishing the feel of Frankie in his arms, loving how she felt and hating how he did.

It was late – well after their bedtime – when Christian realized they could not stay on the sofa overnight. So moving as carefully as he could, Christian scooped Frankie into his arms, carefully carrying her upstairs to her bedroom. Kicking the door to her room open, Christian placed Frankie on the bed, waiting for her to roll over onto her side before pulling the duvet over her. In her sleep, she seemed so much younger than when she was awake. Her gorgeous blue eyes closed, her dark eyelashes resting on her cheeks were almost as alluring.

For just a moment, Christian allowed himself to imagine what Frankie might look like naked. Her curves already abundantly evident in her stretch cargos and tight long-sleeved top, Christian let himself fantasize about Frankie unclothed and him running his hands all over her; her legs open as he hovered above poised to claim her. Skin pale and milky, but lacking the sickly, translucent hue of some Moroi, Frankie was perfect. He'd already seen her arm tattoos, and of course, there were her promise mark and molnija, but for some time, Christian had wondered whether there were other tattoos hidden beneath Frankie's clothes. And he'd be lying if he didn't want to see them.

Raking his fingers through his hair, Christian softly padded from Frankie's bedroom, heading toward his own. An icy shower was the only thing he had to look forward to – unless you counted an hour of self-recrimination and stern reminders he was a married man who had no business fantasizing about a woman's body, no matter how enticing he found her.


"My marriage is over," Christian told Adrian, the two of them sitting side by side in comfortable leather armchairs beside the fire, watching Frankie and a couple of other Guardians through the large windows. Christmas morning and they were having a snow fight outside. "I'd walk away tomorrow if it wasn't for the offensive magic program."

"It means that much to you?" Adrian questioned.

Christian shrugged. "After what my parents and Tasha did, it's what I think I'm meant to do with my life. To somehow atone for their evil. If I divorce the Queen, any political influence I have disappears with it. In fact, people are likely to avoid me and the program in case they offend her Majesty."

"So stay married then," Adrian countered, playing devil's advocate.

"I can't. Every time I think about her, all I can think of is the lies. It's not even the cheating or the baby that upsets me the most. I could have overcome that. It's the way she treats people like they're disposable. Rose and I were the two people closest to her. We would have done anything for her, but she feels absolutely no guilt or shame about the way she's manipulated and lied to us or the way she's destroyed our trust. It's all about her image with no consideration of the cost to those who love her. That's what I can't forgive."

"Just because you're married, doesn't mean you have to live together or be a couple," Adrian reasoned, pouring himself another glug of his second cousin's good brandy. "Live where you want, do whatever you want to do. Turn up to Court a couple of times a year to show your face then take off again. You can be your own man."

"That involves its own sacrifices," Christian said sadly, his eyes latching on to Frankie as she frolicked outside.


Eddie and Pavel were sparring, Rose standing to one side adjudicating while Alberta stood nearby explaining the fight to baby Lara. Whether she wanted to be a Guardian or not, that kid was going to kick ass at an Academy one day if her family had anything to do with it!

"So, two kids. That makes you a family man, Belikov. How are you planning to support Rose, Lara and the new little one?" Janine asked not unpleasantly as she sat to the side with Abe and Dimitri watching the fight.

Abe's almost imperceptible head shake suggested Janine might not be aware of the very generous financial transfer he'd made to Rose some months ago.

"We have some savings," Dimitri started cautiously, "and I've been working, so we've been living off what I've earned and saved some too. While we were in Mitchell, I was introduced to blacksmithing. It turns out I'm quite good at it. Rose and I have discussed me doing some study and making a profession of it."

"Shoeing horses and making fire guards? I can't imagine there's a living in that," Janine declared, dismissing the idea out of hand.

"With all due respect, Janine, that's not what it's about these days. Modern blacksmiths are involved in lots of things, including the maintenance and repair of large farm equipment. The equipment is expensive, to begin with, so it needs to be maintained. Additionally, if a machine breaks down during harvest or similar, hundreds of thousands of dollars can be at stake. Mechanics take care of the engines, but blacksmiths maintain the other large parts. There's a shortage of skilled blacksmiths, so it's possible to make a very comfortable living, and it has the bonus of being a portable skill. Wherever we end up, there's likely to be work for a skilled blacksmith."

"How long would you be studying?" Abe asked, interested in this information. It was the first he'd heard of the idea.

"A couple of years," Dimitri admitted. "There's a course in Bozeman that runs a few days a week at the technical school. I'd prefer to do it faster, but with Roza pregnant…."

"You'd choose to stay in Montana?" Janine asked in surprise.

"We thought it was a good idea with Rose pregnant. She trusts Dr. Olendzki and hopes that she can deliver our baby. Plus being close to an Academy means we can stay in touch with our Dhampir friends without having to be a part of the Moroi world."

"And what would Rose do while you're studying? She's not the type to stay parked in an RV playing housewife," Janine warned.

"We've talked about that, too. There are some graduate courses at Montana State University Rose is interested in. She can take on as many or as few classes as she wants…"

"Our baby with a Graduate degree?!" Janine gasped, tearing up as she turned to face Abe.

"She earned her undergraduate degree despite hating the subjects and guarding Vasilisa full-time," Dimitri justified. "She's decided she wants to try studying something she's interested in. It will be a juggle, but we'll rent a house somewhere around here and balance looking after our children and studying."

"Rose never had a chance for something like this. Not like she should have," Janine said to Abe and Dimitri, wiping tears away from her eyes. "Our little girl has a dream. You have the money, I know you do. She deserves to have her chance. Make it happen, Abe!" Janine said forcefully, fixing Abe with a glare.

Dimitri smirked behind Janine's back as Abe looked at the mother of his daughter with a devoted expression.

"Of course, Jeanie. You leave it with me. I'll sort it out so Rose can do whatever she wants," he promised, using the opportunity as an excuse to pull Janine closer to him and kissing her to seal the deal.