Rose
"How was school?" I asked Aly as she ran out the gates and into my legs.
"It's summer!" I smiled at her and nodded. That morning, I finished my finals for university. She clenched my hand as we walked home. The sun beating down on us. "Are we leaving tomorrow?"
"Yeah. We'll come back though. Grandma Sally, Grandpa Tom and Uncle Tony will always be family." I say to her as we reach the house and unlock the door. "Have you got everything that you want to bring?" Aly nodded.
"Am I going to meet family?" I smiled down at her as I close the door behind us.
"Yeah. Hey – more presents!" Aly giggled. "Go on, no more uniform for a while!" She giggled and ran up to her room to change. She came jumping down the stairs dressed and ready to go over to her grandparents. I looked around our little house, some of our things were still there, but most were stored in boxes, already filling up the car. We took the short way to the house, Aly wants to spend as much time as she can with them before we go.
"Mommy, the pretty lady, she's going to have a princess crown tomorrow." I looked down at Aly as we walked the short distance to Sally and Toms. I looked at her. "I know things." I gave her a smile.
"Aly, do you know when the pretty lady is getting a princess crown?"
"At this time." She held up seven fingers. I gave her a smile and pulled on a curl.
"You are a very clever girl." Aly smiled and ran up the steps to the door. "It's just us!" I called as I opened the door and Aly went burst through.
"We're here!" Sally called. I followed her voice into the living room. She stood with her hands behind her back. I looked at her curiously. She smiled.
"We made these for your parents and em, Aly's dad." She handed me a filled photo album. I flipped it over curiously, and opened the pages. "We got to see Aly grow up, they didn't. At least they'll be able to see it through photos." I turned each page. There I was, still cut up, brusis, stiches smiling with a growing belly. There's Aly, just born, her little red face and hands. There's Aly and I, Aly is flying on my exposed chest and my eyes are closed smiling. There's Aly, on her first day of school. I closed the book and looked up.
"I love them." I smiled, fighting back the tears. "I'm going to miss you guys." Tom came over and wrapped me in a hug. I hugged him back as tightly as I could. "I'll come back; I promise!" Tom smiled and kissed my head.
"Someone is going to have to keep Tony in line, so you better." Tom moved away and Sally took his place.
"I'll call, every morning, every night before Aly goes to sleep – I'll come back for weekends, holidays-" I sucked in a breath as my voice broke. "You're my family too." Sally cupped my face in her hands and kissed my forehead.
"No, there's no crying in this house." I laughed. "You're doing the right thing."
"It just hurts." Sally smiled.
"I know, baby." She smiled. "You know, I always wanted a daughter." I gave her a hug. Small arms wrapped around my legs and two arms around my shoulders. Tom and Tony.
"When are you leaving?"
"About eight." Sally's eyes watered. We all hugged again, for a long time.
"Now! No more moping," Tony said as he picked Aly up as she giggled. "I get a house out of this!"
"You're paying me rent." I replied, shoving his shoulder. He gave me a smile in return.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
When I woke up the nest morning, I made our last breakfast here. Sally was bouncing around; she was very excited. I found it very difficult to keep her still. After breakfast, I cleaned up before taking Aly upstairs. Aly wanted to wear a blue dress with bows on hips and little ruffles on the arms, she kept it out of her clothes box that was now in the car. I got her white sandals and cardigan before going into my room. I threw on light pink, paper bag type short shorts and a form fitting, white off the shoulder shirt tucked in. I threw on some heels, grabbed Aly's bag and looked around one more time. I sighed and threw my hair up, allowing pieces to fall to frame my face.
"Mommy! It's time to go." Aly said from my door. I sighed, looked around one more time before taking her hand and closing the door. I did the same thing when I opened my front door for the last time, only, when I turned around, there were so many familiar faces standing outside.
"Surprise!" I stood, open mouthed looked at all the people I have made friends with over the past four years – there's Jerry, there's Terry. I sucked in a breath and forced the tears away.
"You guys!" There was a very awkward group hug to follow.
"You didn't think we were going to let you go without saying goodbye, did you?" I smiled. Hugging each and every person. It was 8:30 before I was able to strap Aly in the car and started the long drive.
There was signing, plenty of bathroom stops, food stops, dinner stops. It didn't take long for my car to be driving down a familiar, quiet, empty lane way, until I saw the gates. I heard Aly take in a breath as she looked out her window. Her cheeks were red from a nap and her arms glistened with sun cream. I looked straight ahead, my heart pounding. I pulled to a stop at the gates.
"I'm sorry, miss, but you must have the wrong address-" I turned and looked at Hans. He took in a sharp breath. "Hathaway?" I gave him a smile.
"I'm home." He stood open mouthed, waved his hand to get the gate to opened. I put up my window and drove.
"It's Hathaway! Rose is back!" I heard Hans say into his ear piece as I drove away.
"Everyone's in a big hall Mommy. The pretty lady is getting her crown now." I nod and make my way towards the church in the center of Court. I pulled to a stop, took out my keys, grabbed Aly's bag and got my daughter. I put the keys in the bag and took her hand.
"Let's go, baby." I took her hand in mine as I led her through the doors. Guardians lines the entrance. There was sound coming from the closed door. A Guardian I didn't recognize got in my way.
"A traitor has no place here."
"It's a long story." I reply, side stepping him. He got in my way again. I stopped. "Look, I really don't have time for this." I pushed past him, opened the doors. Queen Tatiana stood at the altar, a crown in her hands.
"I now pronounce you, Queen."
"Ain't no one putting that crown on her head other than me!" I called as I stood at the end of the aisle.
"I want to help too!" Aly called giggling. I smiled down at her and tugged her hand. We walked down the aisle, Lissa turned and stood, open mouthed. There were whispers as I passed but I ignored all them. Lissa got up and ran towards me, putting her arms tightly around my shoulders. I put one arm around her as Aly held the other tightly.
"You remember?" I nodded as I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, nodding my head.
"Everything." Lissa pulled away and smiled, Aly tugged my arm and outstretched her arms. I picked her up and put her on my hip.
"Will you do the honors?" I smile and nod, walking hand in hand with my best friend to the top of the altar. Tatiana smiled, handed Aly the crown.
"I knew you'd come back." She whispered as she walked away. Aly and I put the crown on Lissa head. She stood with a smile and hugged me again. The priest took a step back.
"Queen Vasilisa Sabina Rhea Dragomir." Lissa took my hand as she made her way down the aisle. We made it outside into the ball room attached to the church after going through a different doorway.
"When did -"
"Right after you left." I replied. "Aly was still in school and I had exams. I would have come sooner." The room started to fill with some people.
"Exams?"
"Yeah, I was studying law while I was away." Lissa smiled as Aly tugged on my arm.
"I need to wee." I nod.
"Hey Liss, I just need to take Aly to the bathroom." Lissa nodded, but I'm not sure she heard me. She was being pulled into a conversation by a Royal Moroi. I found the bathroom, stood holding the door closed as I was pulled in.
My vision was blurred on the outside, a classic sign I was inside Lissa's mind. There was no darkness left, as if she hadn't used spirit in years. She was nodding away not listening to what was being said, until pale arms wrapped around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. Her hearted started to flutter as she looked into familiar blue eyes. Christian.
"Where's Rose? Does she remember?" Mia followed with the questions. My friends and family surrounded Lissa, she looked around, sadness in her heart.
"Where is she?" Janine asked. She really wanted to see me. Lissa looked around once more.
"I don't know." I came back when Aly knocked on the door to get out. I smiled at her, helped her wash her hands. She yawned.
"Are you sleepy?" She nodded and yawned again. I scooped her up, letting her sit on my hip. She lazily wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder. I felt her hot breath and eyelashes tickling where she lay. "Come on, baby." She yawned again. I made my way back over to where I left Lissa. The crowd was thick but I eventually made my way back to Lissa.
"She just left? Without even saying goodbye again?"
"When you have a four-year-old with the bladder of a peanut, your kind of have too."
Janine, Abe, Mia, Eddie, Lissa, Christian, Viktroia, Sonja, Karoline, Olena, Yava, Paul, Zoya, Katya. All looked at me. Aly gave them a weak smile, before snuggling closer in my neck and closing her eyes. They continued to stare, no one moved, said anything. I cleared my throat.
"I don't know about you, but I could do with going home." I found Dimitri's dark brown eyes as he captured mine. He slowly walked towards me. Aly moved and sighed.
"That's daddy, isn't it, Mommy?" I swallowed and looked at Aly before meeting Dimitri's eyes again. He was standing close to me, very close. I pulled me head back to look him in the eyes.
"It is-" Dimitri cupped my face and kissed me. I gasped before pulling my free arm around his neck and kissing him back.
"Ew, Mommy!" Aly giggled.
"I thought you were sleepy?" She giggled and yawned.
"My tummy hurts." I gave her a small smile and felt the back of her neck. She was getting a bit warm.
"Is it like before?" She nodded. I took the bag from my shoulders and rummaged for her medicine. When Aly was is hospital, they said it was nausea, like what I had. I took out the syringe and another bottle of baby Calpol and another syringe. I undid the top and filled both syringes with the two medicines. "Open up." She did and I squirted both syringes in her mouth, one after the other. After putting them away, I gave her the stuffed bunny.
"It's your turn." I gave her a small smile, took my tablet out and downed it with a bottle of water. I opened my moth to show her. She gave me a smile and a nod. "Good."
"Go to sleep baby." She nodded and snuggled into Dimitri; I knew she was asleep almost instantly.
"Is she okay?" Janine asked. I stepped away from Dimitri and looked at my mom. I picked up the bag and nodded.
"She should be in the morning." I rubbed her back. "So, I don't know about anyone, but I could do with going home."
