"My father?" Rose asked, cuddling into Dimitri's side a little. Ever in tune with her, I could see the Russian move slightly to pull her protectively against him. While I'd always feel guilty for signing the leave pass which got the two of them into this mess, I was happy that they were together and that he'd made it back to her. If ever two people belonged together it was Rose and Dimitri.

"Yes. Your father has heard about your… predicament… and would like to be of assistance," Abe clarified.

"My father…" Rose said, still stuck on the first part of Abe's news. "He knows about me? For how long? What's his name? Does he want to meet me?"

Abe looked conflicted. I'd warned him Rose would want details. It was understandable; one parent had abandoned her – it made sense she'd be curious about the other.

"Your father has only recently discovered your existence. He had no idea he had a child until a few weeks ago. I'm not at liberty to reveal his name at this stage, and he has not informed me of any intentions to meet with you."

"So how did he find out about me?" she asked.

"He has not shared that information with me either," Abe said, "Although I understand it was quite a shock to him. You're his only child."

"Did he have a relationship with my mother?" Rose pressed.

"I don't believe so. My belief is that it was a one-off thing," Abe replied delicately.

"So you can't tell me a name, what can you share with me?" Rose asked, looking at Abe challengingly.

"I can tell you that he's a very successful businessman who works out of several locations in America, Europe, and Asia. He's in his early forties, has never married and has no other children."

"And he wants to help me?" she asked Abe but looking at Dimitri, who was rubbing calming circles on her arms.

"Yes. When he found out about you, he also discovered you were pregnant and at that stage alone," Abe stopped here to look meaningfully at Dimitri. "So he is making arrangements to be of financial assistance to you."

Rose sat there for a moment taking it all in; then she turned to bury her face against Dimitri's chest and started crying. Abe looked alarmed, but Dimitri took it in his stride, closing his arms around her and soothing her.

"He doesn't want to meet me," she cried against Dimitri's shirt. "He's probably ashamed of me."

Dimitri's face contorted in pain. I knew he hated the damage Rose's upbringing had inflicted on her. The way deep down she always thought she wasn't worthy.

"Shh, milaya. Mr. Mazur hasn't said your father doesn't want to meet you, just that he hasn't mentioned it, yet. I know it's a big thing for you, but it must be for him, too. It makes sense to reach out first through a lawyer – but that doesn't mean he doesn't care or doesn't want to meet in the future," Dimitri crooned, stroking Rose's hair waiting for her to calm down a little.

"Mr. Mazur, nice to meet again," Dimitri said turning his attention to the Moroi. "Can I ask what your instructions are?"

"Certainly Guardian Belikov, and please call me Abe. Rose's father would like me to spend some time with the young lady and make suggestions to him about how best to provide for her and the child financially and to make sure they are getting the best possible medical care. He also wants me to write a dossier about Rose. Her likes, dislikes, more about her life growing up and that sort of thing. He has a lot of blanks to fill in."

"So he gets to know all about me, but I don't get to know anything about him?" Rose snapped, still crying.

"I don't think that's his intention," Abe said. "Your father is a very cautious man, Rose. He was very surprised to find out he had a child. He intends to provide for you in any case, but he's curious about you."

"Yeah well he's not the only curious one," she said bitterly, "And I've had a lot longer to wonder about it." She got up and straightened her clothes. "I'm done here. I don't want any part of this. I've managed without him in my life this far, and the last thing I need is another absent parent involving themselves in my life on their terms." And then she walked out of my office.

Dimitri sighed leveling his gaze upon me. "Alberta? Can you…"

"I'm on it," I said, standing and following Rose from the room. As I'd expected, she hadn't got far; I found her sitting on a bench just down the corridor.

"Why doesn't he want to meet me, Alberta?" she asked, crying again. It was only then I felt the weight of my promise not to tell her who Abe was. "Do you think he's embarrassed by me? Is the money his way of easing his conscience?"

"Rose, try not to read too much into things," I said, choosing my words carefully. "You have to remember this must be a big shock to him, too. You've had your whole life knowing you had a father somewhere. He's only had a week or two knowing he has a child. He cared enough to make contact, and he wants to help support you and the baby. Maybe just take things at face value for now and see how things play out?"

"I always thought if I found out who my father was, maybe he'd be happy and want to meet me. Maybe even want to get to know me," she cried.

Of course she did. It was the same dream most single parented or abandoned Dhampir kid had. Every child wanted to be loved and to think their absent parents cared about them.

"Please, Rose. Come back and give the man a chance. I know Dimitri's back, and so things are different now, but a little financial help might still make things a lot easier for the two of you when you're starting out? Allocations that accommodate a partner and a child must be very few and far between. You know Dimitri will do whatever it takes to support the three of you - but if money wasn't such a concern he might be able to be more selective about his next allocation?"

As I expected, thinking about Dimitri immediately brought Rose around. He might do anything for her, but the same was true of her for him.

"What if he doesn't want to know me?" she whispered forlornly.

"Rose he's already curious about you and wants to help. Give it a bit of time," I counseled, hoping to God Abe was going to do the right thing by her.


"What's your relationship with Rose, Guardian Belikov?" Abe asked, cutting straight to the chase once Alberta left the room.

"I'm her boyfriend," I said, suspecting where this was going.

"But you were her mentor?"

"Yes, I was. Rose and I spent so much time together, it's probably no surprise we fell in love."

"And you do love her?" he asked suspiciously.

"With everything I am, Mr. Mazur," I said earnestly.

"Abe," he corrected absentmindedly, mulling over my words. "So how long has this been going on?"

"The love? It built up over months. Together? Only the five days after I was reallocated but before I left for my mission. I was no longer a Guardian at St. Vladimir's or her mentor, and she was over the age of consent, so we felt there was nothing to hold us back."

"Those are just formalities," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "The truth is you allowed yourself to fall in love with a student what five, six years younger than you?"

"Seven," I groaned. He was right. Nothing he was saying was anything I hadn't already berated myself about.

"And now you're back, and she's pregnant. What are your plans?" he asked with an almost dangerous look in his eyes.

"I plan to spend my life with her and our child. I'll work to support and provide for them, and I will make sure they never want for anything. I will be the man they need me to be."

"You say our child?" Abe said quietly. "Are you telling me you're the biological father of her baby?"

"I'm telling you that I plan to be a parent to that child in every possible way. That I will be there for him or her, and make sure that they have the sort of loving upbringing Rose missed out on," I replied, not answering his question.

"You blame Rose's father for not being there?" he asked in surprise.

"No. You can't blame a man for not acting on something he didn't know about," I said, thinking about the time when I was unaware Rose was expecting our child. "But his actions are his own once he does."

"So you're what? Twenty-five? That's young to be saddled with a girlfriend and soon a baby. I can't imagine finding an allocation is going to be easy?"

"I'm not saddled, Abe. I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I'm getting the opportunity to be a father and spend my life with the woman I love. Yes getting a suitable allocation is going to be difficult, which is why I intend to travel to Court as soon as possible to report on my mission and see if there's something available."

"And if there isn't?" Abe pressed.

"Then it's going to be the time for some hard choices," I admitted.

"What does she want?"

"At this stage, I don't think she knows. We've not had the chance to talk things through since I've been back. Rose's blood pressure is high, and the doctor is concerned. She's given her a week off school. There's another situation going on which would make getting off campus for a while a good idea. The doctor has cleared her to travel, so I'm hoping to get Alberta's permission to take Rose to Court with me so we can spend a few days working out what she wants so I can figure out how to make it happen."

"You're very invested in her happiness," he observed.

"That's my job now."

"But what makes you happy?" he probed.

I felt sorry for him. If he didn't know the answer to that, he'd never really been in love.

"She does, Abe."


I walked back through the door to Alberta's office and curled up on the sofa, tucking myself in under my Russian God's arm without even looking at Abe. Dimitri leaned in and looked at me.

"How are you feeling Roza? You know the doctor wants you to stay calm."

"The doctor? What's going on Rose?" Alberta asked protectively.

"I've got high blood pressure. She wants me to take a week off school to rest," I grumbled.

"The whole Tasha thing is stressing Rose out," Dimitri said in his beautiful accented voice. "I was hoping to take her to Court with me for a few days? Dr. Olendzki has cleared her to fly, and she needs some maternity clothing and underwear so we could shop for those there. And it would be easier to make plans for our future and to consider any possible allocations if she was there to discuss them with me."

I looked at Alberta, giving her my most pathetic look, but it didn't look as though she was going to budge.

"I'm not sure…" she started.

"Why don't we kill two birds with one stone?" Abe suggested. "Rose and Guardian Belikov would be most welcome to travel on my jet and stay in my unit during their visit to Court. I have other business to attend to there anyway, so it's no inconvenience. It would give me the opportunity to get to know Rose better, and I'm sure were I to contact Rose's father I could get him to sign whatever forms would be required, given Rose is still underage. I could send them back in my plane later in the week? Perhaps Sunday?" he suggested.

I looked at Dimitri. If an offer was too good to be true, it usually was, but free flights and accommodation at Court would be a huge help. Plus I was thinking about what Alberta had said. Maybe I should take this father thing a day at a time.

"Saturday," I said looking at him for the first time since I came back in. "It's my eighteenth on Saturday, and I'd like to be back here to celebrate with my friends."

Abe grinned.

"We can manage that. How soon would you like to leave?"

I looked at Dimitri.

"As soon as possible. Tonight if we can."


"I can't believe this is only your second time on a plane," Dimitri commented as we cuddled together now the aircraft had leveled out.

I shrugged.

"Kids brought up by the Academy don't exactly get fancy holidays, you know that. If I hadn't gone on the run with Lissa, I'd probably still never have been on one," I said matter of factly. That was something I'd always looked forward to when I became a Guardian; the opportunity to travel. I guess I could shelve that idea now I thought sadly.

Abe had introduced Dimitri and me to his Guardians when we'd boarded. We were seated in a conversational group facing Abe. He'd put an eye mask on, headphones in, pressed a few buttons on his phone and said he was going to sleep. Everyone else was sitting far enough away that we wouldn't be overheard, so since neither of us was sleepy yet, Dimitri decided this would be a good time to make some of our plans.

"Roza, I know everything's changed because of the baby, and you've had to give up so much. I haven't told you how sorry I am that all your dreams were ruined because I couldn't control myself. But I love you, and I love Junior, and I promise I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you." My Russian God looked so remorseful.

"Comrade? For quite a while now my biggest dream has been to be with you. Yes, a lot of other things have changed, but that's life. I don't regret being together or falling pregnant. I'm sorry if you do. I know you didn't get any say in whether to continue with the pregnancy," I said, taking my hands from where he'd held them in his. He grabbed them straight back again, stroking them gently.

"Roza I was thrilled when I found out you were pregnant. It was like winning the lottery! But you're the one paying for it. It's your education, your career and even your reputation that is suffering. Your mother and best friend have all but turned their backs on you, and now there's some nutjob wanting to cause you trouble, and that's my fault, too," he said bitterly. "I just wish I could take you away from all this."

"I know Comrade. I do wish things weren't so complicated, but we're getting our chance. I got you back, and that means more to me than anything. I never thought about being a Mom, but now I'm pregnant, and you're here to share it with me, I'm happier than I've ever been. And just so you know, I love it when you can't control yourself," I told him with a sexy look. "I hope you lose your self-control over and over again while we're at Court," I giggled.

He laughed.

"Oh, Roza – I love you."

"Love you too, Comrade!" I replied, glad to see him looking happier.

"So have you got any thoughts about where to from here?" he asked.

"Not really," I admitted. "I've been mostly focused on where to deliver the baby, finding a place to live and getting a job."

"Well let's start with those three then," he said getting out his notepad. I laughed – ever organized, it was such a Dimitri thing to do! "Do you have any thoughts about where you want to have the baby or who you want there? Don't worry about practicalities just tell me how you imagine it if you could have it however you want."

"Well, I guess I imagine Dr. Olendzki there. She's been there every other time I've been sick or injured."

"That makes sense," Dimitri acknowledged. "She's been your doctor since you were four."

"Yep. I trust her. Also, I thought what if the baby isn't Dhampir? I mean, we're both Dhampir, so I assume the baby will be. But what if it's not? I mean – this is a first as far as I know?"

"I can ask my Babushka," Dimitri said thoughtfully. "When she found out you were pregnant, she straight away said it could happen if a woman is shadow-kissed."

"She knows about being shadow-kissed?" I asked stunned.

"Yes. Babushka has friends who are bonded. The woman is a Moroi Spirit user with a shadow-kissed Dhampir husband."

"Wow! I'd love to speak with them sometime," I said, my mind reeling.

"I thought when things settle down maybe we could go to Russia for a visit to introduce the baby to my family? Babushka could introduce you then? I'd like our child to grow up knowing my homeland and its Russian family."

"I'd like that too. Your nieces and nephews will be Junior's only cousins, your sisters its only aunts. I'd like them to be close," I replied, imagining huge family dinners and Christmases together. "I want Junior to have everything I didn't," I murmured. "And if we can, when it's time, I want to try for another child," I blurted out.

"You don't want to see how we go with this one, first?" Dimitri asked, but I could see the joy in his eyes.

"Ok. I just don't want Junior growing up alone like I did. It's a hard thing to know you're on your own from a very early age," I said.

"Our baby is going to have us, Roza," Dimitri promised. "But I love the idea of having at least one more."

"At least? How many are you thinking, Comrade?"

"I'm not sure. I guess it depends on how well I can control myself," he teased.

We cuddled for a bit, giving each other gentle, loving kisses. Dimitri had been back just over twenty-four hours, but already I couldn't imagine being without him.

"Right," he said straightening up a little as a Guardian walked past our seats to the front of the plane to get a drink. "So we know you'd like Dr. Olendzki to deliver Junior if possible. Who do you imagine being there?"

"You, of course," I said, sneaking another kiss.

"Anyone else? Lissa maybe?"

"No. Not Lissa. Maybe Celeste or Alberta?" I suggested. "Although they might not want to be there or might not be able to get away…"

"You know," Dimitri said thinking it over, "having the baby at St. Vladimir's has some merit. You'd get your doctor of choice; it's a place you're comfortable and familiar, and both Celeste, and Alberta would be there. It's also away from prying eyes, and those three already know about Junior's parentage. I guess it comes down to my allocation. I'd need to take leave so I could be there with you, but maybe it's worth exploring? Even if St. Vlad's isn't possible, we could look at the hospital you were at in Missoula? With Dr. Olendzki attending?"

"I'd like her there. I know it's silly to be frightened. Women do this all the time, but it will be a first for me."

"Milaya, having you feeling safe and supported is important," he reassured me. "So I'm going to skip where to live and talk about you working. What are you thinking?"

I did have thoughts, but I wasn't sure how to put into words what I was wanted. "I'm not sure. What do you think?" I asked, trying to get a read on what he thought.

"Well, I guess I assumed I would be working to support our little family and you'd stay at home with our baby, at least at first. But I don't want to stand in the way of your career, so if you want to do things the other way I'm happy to stay home with Junior."

"I want to stay home," I said firmly. "At least for six months or a year if we can afford it. I'd hate to miss anything," I explained, "and I want Junior to know Mama is always there for him…"

"Him?"

"I think it's a boy," I smiled.

"I think it's a girl," he replied.

"Well one of us is right," I teased. "I imagine a handsome little boy just like his Papa."

"I imagine a beautiful little girl just like her Mama," he replied.

"Do you want to find out? I have a scan next week…"

"Let's keep it a surprise," Dimitri suggested. "I like the idea of us finding out when we meet him or her for the first time."

"Ok," I agreed. "But we should probably talk names soon."

"We will. I promise. So. Do you have any thoughts on where to live?"

"I guess it will come down to where you can get an allocation," I said gloomily. "But I'm open to pretty much anywhere."

"But if you had a choice?"

"Well, I thought maybe near Court? I know Court itself is expensive, but Deirdre said there are a few communities in the areas surrounding Court? She said most are rich Moroi families living in large houses, but maybe one of them needs a Guardian? And maybe I could help look after their kids or do their cleaning?"

"Milaya I'm not having you clean Moroi toilets," Dimitri growled furiously.

"Comrade I don't mind working to help our family. I know it's not going to be easy on a single wage, especially with you sending money home to help your family. Eventually, I'd like to work as a Guardian, but while Junior is little, I don't mind cleaning or whatever."

"Mama recently came into some money," he said. "I don't need to send money home anymore. In fact, if we need it Mama might be able to help us out a little."

I nodded. I had to admit that was a relief. I'd worried how we were going to manage if Dimitri was still supporting his family of seven back home.

"So describe your dream home to me," he said, pulling me close to him.

"Dream house? Well… I want at least twenty toilets and four or five kitchens…" I joked. Dimitri lifted an eyebrow dubiously. He knew I could burn water.

"Nah. I'd like a cottage. Nothing fancy. Two or three bedrooms. Maybe a little porch where we could sit together? And a deck where you could barbecue for our friends so I could buy you one of those 'kiss the cook' aprons. It'd be good to be close enough to Court so we could go there whenever, but not to have to live there. Even if our friends don't live at Court, most Guardians end up visiting there every now and again, so it would be nice to live close enough so they could visit. What do you want?" I asked him curiously.

"I love what you're describing," he said. "And I'd like a veggie patch. My Babushka has grown fresh vegetables and fruit for the family since I was a child. I find gardening quite relaxing, and nothing tastes better than homegrown," he asserted.

"I like the sound of that," I said, feeling very loving all of a sudden. I wrapped my arms around his neck and spent the next half an hour kissing the man that two days ago I thought was gone forever. The pilot announced we were minutes away from landing, so we straightened ourselves up.

"Comrade? You know I don't need my dream house or job or even ideal delivery, right? As long as you're with me, I'm happy."

"I know that, Roza. But a man needs to have some goals," he said with determination.

Minutes later we touched down. It was the middle of the Moroi night, so it was bright with sunlight outside. Pavel came forward and directed us to a minibus with the other Guardians.

"Should we wake Abe?" I asked, looking to wear the eccentric Moroi was out cold.

"No need – I'll do that," Pavel said kindly, so Dimitri took my hand, and together we stepped out into the Spring sunshine.


"Good trip Mr. Mazur?" I asked once Belikov, and the girl were off the plane.

"Very good," he said thoughtfully, lifting his eyeshade and removing his earbuds. Looking at his phone, he went into the voice recorder app and pressed stop. "Pavel? Book an appointment for a Real Estate agent for me tomorrow, would you? I want to look at luxury property surrounding Court. One with a decent gatehouse or cottage. I think it would be handy for me to have a base near but not in Court for when I visit."

"For Rose to live there?" I asked with a smirk.

"Whatever gave you that idea, Pavel?" he asked innocently, draping his scarf around his neck and stepping off the plane and straight into the tinted darkness of the waiting minibus.