I sighed and rolled my head back, resting it on the top of the chair as we waited. I was excited to find out what our little bundle of joy was going to be. Dimitri was betting on another girl, I was betting on a boy.

"Still want to keep up the wagger?" I asked, placing my hand on Dimitri's leg, squeezing gently.

Dimitri smirked and turned to look at me. "What's the prize?" he asked with a chuckle.

I shrugged and titled my head in a mock thinking gesture. "Well…if I'm wrong, I will do all of the laundry for the next month. If you're wrong, you own me foot rubs every day for the rest of my pregnancy," I proposed with a smirk.

Dimitri laughed and leaned over to kiss my forehead. "Roza, I rub your feet every night either way. Pick another prize."

I scoffed a laugh and thought again. I didn't want to pick anything crazy, I was already a raging hormonal with this pregnancy. If I thought I was weepy with my first pregnancy, I was damn near hysterical with this one.

"Oh! If you're wrong, you have to make my craving food every day for a month. No matter what it is, no matter how disgusting," I said with a smirk. I knew I had picked the right one because he made a small face. While I ate Hot Cheetos and Dijon mustard before, now I had a thing for pickled herring.

All-day. Everyday.

"Deal," Dimitri said kissing the top of my nose.

"Rose?"

Dimitri and I both turned to find my obstetrician, Dr. Chu, standing in the doorway, a small smile on her face as she waited for us. I pushed myself out of my chair and followed her, Dimitri's hand tight in mine as we headed into the exam room. I took my shoes off and got on the scale to do my measurements before climbing up onto the bed, pushing my leggings down so they sat just below my hipbones.

"So, we've hit thirty-four weeks. Still wanting to wait to find out the gender?" Dr. Chu asked, pulling the ultrasound gel off the warmer. I looked up to Dimitri, who was sitting on a stool by my head, before answering.

"No. We've decided we want to know," I replied, reaching my hand back to hold his. Dr. Chu raised her brows with a smirk before tucking the tissue-like paper into the waistband of my pants and squirting the gel on.

I sighed when the lukewarm gel was spread over my lower abdomen and rested my head back, eyes training to the monitor. Dimitri sat forwards and kissed the top of my head as the sound of our baby's heartrate filled the room.

I will always love hearing that sound.

"Alright. Who thinks what?" Dr. Chu asked, knowing fair well that we would have a bet going.

"Dimitri thinks girl, I think boy. I think Dimitri is going to love being my snack provider," I chuckled.

"Hmm. What's your snack of choice lately?"

"Pickled herring," Dimitri groaned.

Dr. Chu chuckled before reaching up and turning the monitor towards us.

"Well Dimitri, I hope you've become accustomed to the smell of herring because you have another boy on the way," she said, pointing to the screen.

Dimitri and I both moved our attention to the screen and a smile crossed my lips before my tears started in big fat drops. Dimitri chuckled quietly under his breath before leaning over me to press his lips to mine, my salty tears mingling in the mix.

"Our little Alyosha," I said between weeps. Dimitri nodded his head before looking back up at the monitor.

"Has this calmed down since you were in last?" Dr. Chu asked Dimitri, referring to my emotional eruption. I chuckled despite myself and Dimitri laughed as well.

"A little, but not a lot. She dropped a bowl yesterday and cried for about an hour," Dimitri said stroking my hair affectionately. Dr. Chu finished up taking measurements and photos before wiping my stomach gently with a cloth and printing off a few photos.

"We look like we are still on track with your due date. But if your blood pressure keeps fluctuating, I'm going to put you on bed rest," she said, handing Dimitri the photos while I fixed my pants.

Dimitri gave me a look and I playfully rolled my eyes. Yes, I worked right until I went into labour, but I promised I would 'behave' this time around. Dimitri steadied me as I slid off the bed and let his hand rest on the side of my belly.

"We'll see you at your next ultrasound, and take it easy," Dr. Chu said as she escorted us out.

I sighed as I tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear. It seemed like I couldn't do anything these days to keep it in place. It didn't matter now, we were already late.

I could blame it on pregnancy hair.

"Are you going to be ok standing for that long?" Dimitri asked tenderly, tucking my wayward hair back in a way that made it stay there. I smiled up at him and nodded, kissing the underside of his jaw.

"Yes. I've got flats on and Lissa has everything designed so that we are only standing for as long as necessary. And I have my belly belt on," I said, patting my belly. Lissa bought me one when I complained about my back pain. Dimitri smiled and moved to stand behind me, cupping the bottom of my swollen belly and lifted it slowly, relieving the remaining pain. It felt like he had lifted ten pounds from my body.

I moaned softly and tilted my head back against his chest, and he kissed the top of my head. He did this at least a day, and there was even more relief when I haven't been wearing the belt. Dimitri held my belly for a moment or two more before slowly bringing his hands down.

"Are the kids ready?" Dimitri asked and I nodded, waddling out of our bedroom towards the living room. I smiled when I found the two cuddled up with my parents, Baba letting Artyom play with his rings.

"Is everyone ready?" I asked, picking up my clutch. Nadia jumped off the couch and ran to me, wrapping her arms around my legs and resting her face against the underside of my stomach. Nadia loved my belly. She was just like her father, she would love to lay with her cheek pressed against it before bedtime.

Mom and Baba got up from the couch and helped put the coats on the kids before picking them up, carrying them to the car. I leaned in and buckled Artyom in before getting in the passenger seat, smiling as we drove to the church.

The church was already decked out in full pomp, fitting for the christening of the Queen's second child. Elijah Andre Ozera Dragmoir was the spitting image of his father, and the Moroi world was in love with the Dragomir Heirs.

I placed kisses on my children's cheeks before heading to the waiting room where Lissa and Christian were waiting, holding onto Dimitri's arms as we walked. I knocked on the door and was ushered in by the Royal Guard and I smiled at a slightly frazzled looking Queen.

She was bouncing Elijah gently as he wailed, shushing and soothing him while Christian entertained Jace.

"Want some help?" I chuckled, extending my arms towards her. She sighed and nodded her head, carefully slipping him into my arms. I cooed at him quietly and held the pacifier against his lips, waiting for him to take it. Thankfully, he did, and his wails turned into soft whimpers.

"You really are the baby whisperer," Lissa sighed, brushing her hair against her artfully styled hair. She looked less Queen like and more like the teenage princess I knew for years. I hummed quietly and rocked from side to side before sitting down on the settee.

"I've had double to experience, remember?"

Lissa nodded and sat down next to me, propping her head upon her hand. I took in the beautiful white dress she had picked for today, and I noted the sapphire jewelry that once belonged in her mother's jewelry box.

"I feel like this day is never going to end. If I had it my way, the christening would be small and private," Lissa said, running the back of her finger over Elijah's arm. I smirked at her and wagged my brows at her.

"Preach it, Queenie."

She shook her head as the door opened, and the priest stepped into the room.

"It's time to start, Your Majesty."

We looked at each other before standing up, and I handed Elijah back to Lissa. Christian stood next to her with Jace in his arms, kissing his platinum hair. I smiled at them and headed out before them, walking down the pews and taking my place in the front. I smoothed the skirt of my dress out over my legs as the service began and stroked Nadia's hair throughout the service. When the time came, Dimitri and I stood up with Lissa and Christian for the baptism, reciting the words and lighting the candle when the time came.

Dimitri kept his arm around my waist when he could, stroking his thumb along my side. I could tell that near the end of the service that Lissa was getting tired as she shifted on her feet. If we had the bond still, I know I could hear the whispering of her voice in the back of my mind. I know that I could hear her cursing herself for wearing the heels instead of the flats she originally planned.

Lissa caught my eyes when she looked up from Elijah, a smile gracing her lips. I didn't need the bond to know what she was thinking at this very moment.

She couldn't be happier because she was surrounded by her friends, her family, and her children.

I sighed and snuggled into Dimitri's naked side, reminiscing about the old wooden cabin around us. The day two of my children have been waiting for was here, graduation.

Dimitri slipped his arm around my shoulder, kissing my hair before pulling me down in bed with him.

"You know, I'm surprised this place is still standing after eighteen years," I said, drawing circles on his chest with the tips of my fingers. Dimitri made a sound of approval in the back of his throat.

"I am too. But I'm glad it's still here. It's our place," he said as he turned onto his side, leaning over me with a tender expression on his face. I smiled gently as a wave of nostalgia spread over me. Thinking back to the first time we were here made a tingle run down my side.

"We were so young," I whispered.

"We were. We thought we were prepared for everything," he replied, running the back of his fingers over my cheek. I let my eyes flutter closed and I turned my head towards his touch. The pads of his fingers brushed against my lips as he pulled his hand away.

"This was where I decided I didn't want to live without you," Dimitri whispered, dipping his head down to press his lips to mine. I smirked against his lips as I slipped my arms around his body, one going around his neck, the other around his waist as I pulled him down. Dimitri lowed his weight onto my body and slipped his arm between my waist and the mattress, pulling my body towards his.

"Want to go down another road of nostalgia?" Dimitri asked huskily, pressing a leg between mine. I bit my lip and pressed my lips to his again, running my fingers along his back. It didn't take long for me to wiggle out of my shirt and him out of his pants, hot skin against hot skin.

I sighed when his lips made their way to my neck and pushing my hand against his chest, forcing him to lay on his back and I climbed on top of him. Eighteen years since our first night together, since our first night in this cabin, and he still gave me butterflies when he looked at me with his heated gaze.

"Can I tell you something," Dimitri asked, his hands coming to rest on my hips. I hummed as I leaned down and pressed wet kisses against his neck.

"You are just as beautiful now as the day I meant. Maybe even more," he said. I smiled against his neck, my heart swelling in my chest at his words. My appearance had changed over the years, and I knew that I looked good for thirty-seven, but it was always nice to hear him tell me I was beautiful. I pushed up on his chest and gazed down at him. He hadn't changed much. A few more laugh lines, some wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, silver strands peppering his now short hair.

He was just as breathtakingly handsome now as he was when he picked me up off the street in Portland.

"You're still such a smooth talker," I simpered, squirming on his lap as his fingers ghosted up my sides.

He gave me a cocky smirk and rocked his hips against mine, grinding his thick length against my sodden core. I moaned quietly and racked my nails lightly over his chest. The sound he made travelled right to my core, making me clench in anticipation. I rolled my hips against his, rubbing my wetness over his shaft before lifting myself up and sliding onto him.

After all this time, it had never changed. He always felt like home, and this always felt like becoming whole again. He was always the piece to make me whole. It didn't matter how much we had changed over the years, the four walls of this cabin would always know the story of our love, and hold the most precious of moments.

Dimitri's hands tightened against my skin as he guided my movements, thrusting into me as I sank down onto him. My head tipped back as bliss spread through me, from the tips of my toes to the pads of my fingers.

And just like every time we've come together as one, we both found bliss in each other.

I felt pride flow through me as I watched my twins cross the stage and shake hands with the Head Guardian of the Academy. To think that I grew up thinking I would spend my days as a lonely Guardian, walking one step behind a Moroi for the rest of my life. Instead, I was blessed with a life I couldn't have imagined for myself.

A life that I had come to love and cherish.

A husband I loved unconditionally.

Three children that were the center of my world.

Two of which held highest marks both academically and combat wise for their year. I squeezed Dimitri's hand as the twins went back to their seats, and I was practically vibrating to get out of my seat. We sat Artyom and Nadia down a year ago and explained to them that with the changing times if they decided they wanted to pursue other avenues of work, that we would support them. Artyom seemed to be more interesting art, most specifically buildings and structures, while Nadia wanted to spend some time as a Guardian. Artyom even went as far as to apply to the University of Pennsylvania in hopes to pursue his dream.

Once the ceremony was over I hopped up from my seat and weaved my way through the crowd with Alyosha in tow, spotting my flaming-haired daughter and the platinum hair of my godson first. I finally reached them and slipped my arms around Nadia and then Artyom, kissing their heads and whispering how proud I was of them. Dimitri was a second behind me, scooping his children into his embrace. Nadia snuggled into my side as I pulled Jace into a hug as well, congratulating him as well.

"How you move through the crowd so fast, I will never know," Lissa said as she approached us, her Guardians a few steps behind us. I snorted and rolled my eyes.

"Are you really surprised?" I retorted, letting go of Jace so that he could hug his parents. I looked over my shoulder as Dimitri pressed a kiss to the top of Nadia's head and squeezing Artyom's shoulder.

"No, not really," she replied with a small laugh, embracing her son. I smiled at them before catching Christian's eye, giving him a smile as well.

"Mom?"

"Yeah, baby?" I said to Artyom, stroking his cheek softly. He smirked and playfully rolled his eyes at me.

"Is it ok if Nadi and I go to the graduation party?" he asked.

I nodded my head and gave him a smile.

"Does that mean I can go too?" Jace asked, turning his jade eyes to his mother. Lissa looked to Christian and then back, conceding as well. The three of them starting conversing about when they were going to meet up when Lissa pulled me close to her.

"Maybe we can actually have a quiet night with our spouses," she joked. I smirked and looked to Dimitri, smiling at him.

I wouldn't mind spending another quiet night with him in the cabin.

SURPRISE! HAPPY ONE YEAR TO THE STORY THAT STARTED IT ALL!

I felt that owed it to my lovely readers to give them a little gift for being the amazing readers you are.