Title: My Beautiful Baby Boy

Background: Dimitri is getting ready to start high school when he learns that his eldest sister, Karolina, is pregnant. Judgement is high in Baia and Karolina is struggling with what she will do.

"Slut."

"Whore."

"Tramp."

"Hussy."

"Blood whore."

They were whispering about her again, it was obvious.

Though she wasn't showing yet, the pharmacy tech had blabbed to anyone who would listen that Karolina Belikova had purchased a pregnancy test and that two days later purchased prenatal vitamins. Within less than a week the entire town knew that she was pregnant and continued to talk about it any chance they got - and this Sunday, when the entire family was at church, seemed to be the prime time to discuss Karolina and her questionable life choices.

It was a little ironic and hypocritical considering that most of Baia was built on Dhampir women who became pregnant out of wedlock. But, it was human nature, and the busybodies wanted to latch on to any piece of gossip they could. And what better than Karolina Belikova, the good religious girl, getting pregnant out of wedlock.

Karolina for the most part held her head high and ignored the comments but Dimitri knew. Dimitri knew, that Karolina for the past week had been crying every night. He knew that she didn't know what she was going to do and that when she told the father he had screamed at her and told her that it wasn't his. He knew that she was guilty and ashamed. He knew she was terrified. He knew how each comment hurt her even more than the one before. Dimitri knew.

"She's a hussy," Dimitri heard one of the old ladies behind them hiss out.

"Well, what did you expect?" Another old lady asked. "Olena was pregnant before she was legal."

"Guess, it runs in the family," the first old lady snottily replied.

Of course in the misogynistic world of Moroi and Dhampir, Olena was blamed for getting pregnant. Though the reality was Randall forcing himself on her, she was still the one who was blamed. And now with Karolina getting pregnant, the Belikov family was once again the talk of the town.

"Such a tramp, but I always knew that," a person off to the side said. Dimitri wanted to turn around and say something back, but he held his tongue. Olena would be disappointed if her son engaged in rude behavior, especially during church.

"She's such a slut, you know she doesn't know who the father is?" A snotty woman said just loudly enough for the Belikov family to hear.

"Of course she doesn't!" An old women hissed out.

The insults came hard and fast throughout the entire service. Dimitri had tried to focus on what was happening in front of him but in reality all he could focus on was the whispers that were directed at his family. His blood boiled, could they not keep their thoughts and judgments to themselves? This was a church, for heavens sake!

To add more insult to injury, the priest's sermon today went on and on about purity. The gift that was meant to be given to a spouse and how in the eyes of God the union was meant to be pure. Yeva's eyes narrowed as she listened to the service, never mind that before Randall left he donated a majority of the money to build the church. And that she taught Sunday school, Olena organized the choir, and every year they ran the food drive. The Belikov's had been very good to this church.

"Mama, I am going to head home, I am a little tired," Karolina said after the service ended.

"Karolina, you should stay," Yeva told her granddaughter. She didn't want people to talk any more than they already were and Karolina heading home without the family would have the busybodies gossiping for days!

"I am not feeling very well, Babushka," Karolina told her grandmother. It wasn't a lie, she really wasn't feeling well. The incense from the service had made her morning sickness act up, and she had tried not to get sick the entire time.

"The smell?" Olena asked her daughter as they made their way outside.

"Yes, I have been trying not to get sick this entire time," she told her mother truthfully. "Not to mention, I am exhausted."

"Used to happen to your mother all the time," Yeva grumbled.

"Do you mind if I leave?" Karolina turned toward her mother.

"Of course not! Take Dimitri with you," Olena told her daughter as she collected her other children. "Perhaps you will be less likely confronted if he is with you." Olena was hoping that with Dimitri, the talk of the town would be less than if Karolina walked home alone. Olena didn't want Karolina going anywhere alone anymore, gossip spread fast in Baia. Because Dimitri was old enough to understand what was happening, he became Karolina's escort practically everywhere.

Sonya was old enough to know that Karolina was pregnant and that it was a disgrace but Viktoria was still too young to understand why everyone was upset. And why all of a sudden her family was the talk of the town. Dimitri hoped she would be in ignorant bliss for a little while longer, but he knew that soon she would realize what was happening.

"Dimka, you okay with that?" Karolina turned to her brother.

"Yeah, lets go," Dimitri nodded at his sister. The two of them made their way back to the house.

Karolina and Dimitri where really close. She was an incredible big sister to him and he adored her, he always had. Karolina similarly adored her baby brother. Ever since he was born she coddled him, and for the first year of his life, Dimitri, wouldn't sleep unless he was next to his big sister.

"Slut," a passer by said loudly as they walked home.

"Tramp," another said as they kept walking.

Dimitri's hands were balled into fists, as each comment came toward them, but he did his best to keep his cool. It wouldn't do to get in a fight, the family didn't need anymore gossip.

Soon, it was just the two of them walking down the street. Dimitri looked over at Karolina and noticed that her eyes seemed to be brimming with tears.

"When's the first doctor's appointment?" Dimitri asked Karolina trying to distract her.

"Umm not for a few days," she told him. "Dimka, I need to tell someone this, but I don't want Mama to know."

"I won't tell Karolina," he said to her. He was curious as to what she was going to say, he was hoping she would tell him who the father was. Dimitri was ready to kill the bastard that got his sister pregnant.

"I don't know if I want to go through with the pregnancy," she said softly.

"Oh!"

"It's just, that I won't be able to finish school and money is already tight," her eyes brimmed. Dimitri could tell that the thought of ending the pregnancy was killing her but she didn't know what else to do. He didn't want her to end her pregnancy, he was really hoping that he could be an uncle. And Karolina would be a great mother, he just knew it.

"It doesn't have to be that way," he told her after a minute. His initial shock wearing off. Mama would be devastated, he thought.

"Yes, it does," she told him, her eyes filled with tears. "You're just a kid, you don't understand."

"I am not just a kid," Dimitri argued. He stopped being a child last year when he beat up his father, he lost his childhood that day. Ever since then he was the man of the house. And he would continue to be the man of the house, he understood a lot more than everyone thought.

"No, you aren't but I think you should be one for a little while longer," she smiled at him and put her arm around him.

The two of them walked the rest of the way in silence. Occasionally hearing the snide comments of the towns people as they went by. But, Dimitri had one thought running through his head, how to make Karolina see that everything would be okay?

"Mama, you don't understand!" Karolina sobbed out, the two of them were fighting again. Dimitri was listening from the landing on the stairs. This had been an on going fight for a few days now.

Karolina wasn't sure what she wanted to do, and her mother was adamant that she keep the baby. To Olena, it was scandalous to not keep the baby. Unfortunately Karolina felt as if her mother didn't understand what was happening with her. She felt as if Olena didn't understand the snide comments and the struggle of having a baby so young. Because of this, the two had begun to get in regular fights.

"I don't understand Karolina? What do you think I went through when I found out I was pregnant with you?" Olena argued back for the hundredth time. "I had to go through the exact same thing!"

Olena felt for her daughter, she had gone through the same thing when she was pregnant with Karolina. She really did understand the gossip and the judgement better than anyone, but there wasn't much she could do. Karolina was going to be having a baby, and Olena thought that she should just start getting used to the idea. She firmly believed that Karolina should ignore the judgmental and snotty towns people, and live her life. After all, that's what she had done.

"It's not the same anymore!" Karolina said. "I don't think I can go through with this."

"Karolina what are you saying?" Olena asked softly as she sat down at the kitchen table.

It was the first time that Karolina, had told her mother her thought about terminating her pregnancy. She felt as if there was no other option for her. Having the baby would be expensive even if she put it up for adoption, or signed the baby over to an academy, and the last option of keeping the baby was terrifying to Karolina. She wasn't ready to be a mother.

"Karolina, you cannot terminate this pregnancy!" Yeva exclaimed. "I forbid it!" Yeva was the matriarch of the family, it didn't matter that Olena was Karolin's mother. Whatever Yeva said was the law, it would always be that way.

"Babushka, you don't understand!"

"No Karolina!" Yeva said putting her foot down. "Go to your room, your mother and I will discuss what we will do." Yeva sat at the table, her mind wondering to how things had turned out this way. Her granddaughter was such a good girl, she wouldn't be careless and get pregnant. That wasn't like Karolina.

Karolina, ran up the stairs past Dimitri tears streaming down her face. Throwing herself down on her bed, she sobbed. Her life was not turning out the way she thought it would. She was going to be a Guardian like her grandmother and she was going to get out of this little town. Karolina was going to make a name for herself, she was going to go and do great things. Why did her life half to change so drastically? Why did one night turn her life into a disaster?

Unknown to Karolina, Dimitri had tiptoed his way upstairs and watched as his oldest sister cried her eyes out. His heart aching because he wished she wasn't in pain. Things were changing so fast, and he felt fiercely protective for his sister. He wished he could make it all better.

In that moment as Dimitri watch Karolina cry, he decided that he would help her see that good could come from this. And that just because she was pregnant her life wasn't over. He vowed in that moment that he would do everything he could to make his sister happy.

At the same time Dimitri watched his sister, his mother and grandmother sat at the kitchen table. Olena crying remembering her days as a pregnant youth, and Yeva comforting her. The struggle of what Karolina would face was not lost on them both. And they had heavy hearts as they thought of the days to come.

Dimitri walked around the shop looking at all the toys. He wasn't really sure what to get. Karolina was only a few weeks in and she wouldn't know if she was having a boy or girl for awhile. Trying to find something gender neutral was beginning to become harder than he thought it would. And trying to find something he could afford was a bigger struggle.

"Can I help you finding anything?" The male shop attendant asked as Dimitri looked around. The man had an instant soft spot for the young teen walking around the toy store looking a little lost.

"My sister just found out she's pregnant and I wanted to get something for the baby," Dimitri told the man. Dimitri had caught the train to Novosibirsk so he wouldn't have to deal with all of the gossip in Baia, not to mention he was skipping school.

"There are some nice teddy bears," the shop attendant walked Dimitri over to a shelf with hundreds of teddy bears. Dimitri's eyes widened as he took in the array of the stuffed toys, he didn't know where to start.

"Wow," Dimitri looked around in shock. "I don't know there was so many."

"A lot of people have that reaction," the shop attendant smiled at Dimitri. "This one is really nice," he took down a chocolate brown teddy bear that was about medium sized, and a light pink ribbon was tied around its neck.

"But what if she has a boy?" Dimitri asked looking at the pink ribbon idea around the neck.

"Many little girls get this one, along with many little boys," the man told Dimitri. "It's our most popular."

"Is there one that's still really good but not as popular," Dimitri asked him. "I was hoping to get her something more original."

"We have this one," the shop attendant said as he dug around the shelf for a moment. "Here it is!" He pulled out a darker brown large teddy bear with a dark blue bowtie.

"That's great," Dimitri exclaimed."How much is it?" His enthusiasm wearing off as he realized he might not be able to pay for it.

The shop attendant quoted the price, noting when Dimitri's face fell. "But, let me check if it's on sale," the shop attendant continued as he noticed the young boy in front of him get very discouraged.

"Is that possible?" Dimitri asked as he followed the man to the register.

"Oh yes," the shop attendant told Dimitri. "We are in the process of putting up the sale signs, so it could be." After pretending to look through a book and find the item he was looking for, the shop attendant smiled.

"Is it on sale?"

"Yes it is! Its quite a bit less," the shop attendant lied to Dimitri. The man noticed how much Dimitri wanted the bear, and while for most people he would lead to a less expensive item - he made an exception for the boy. He could tell this was more than an obligatory gift and he wanted to help the young teen.

After paying for the teddy bear, Dimitri was on his way to the train to head back home. He couldn't wait to give Karolina the gift, he just needed to find a good time to do it.

"I don't know what to do, Dimitri," Karolina told her brother as they sat on her bed a few days later. Dimitri had gotten up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water and noticed the light on in Karolina's bedroom.

"It's going to be okay," he said softly.

"My life wasn't supposed to turn out this way," she sobbed out softly after a moment. "My doctor's appointment was today."

"I didn't know that," Dimitri said.

"Yeah, and they did an ultrasound," Karolina told him her voice shaking from the crying. "I am thirteen weeks, and I saw the baby."

"You saw the baby?" Dimitri asked. He remembered a little bit of what his mother went through when she had Vika, but he was young so he didn't remember the particulars.

"Yeah," she reached to her nightstand and pulled out a black and white photo. "That's the baby," she pointed to a little blob on the photo.

"Wow," Dimitri stared at the photo, taking it from Karolina. "It's so real, and amazing."

"Yeah, its real," she whispered out taking the photo back, tears streaming down her face.

"I have something for you," Dimitri told his sister as he watch her cry. Dimitri raced to his bedroom to grab the teddy bear he had bought a couple days before. Coming back into Karolina's room, Dimitri presented the teddy bear to his sister.

"Oh Dimitri!" Karolina cried as she took in the large dark brown teddy bear with the blue bowtie. "This must have cost a fortune!"

"It's for you and the baby," he told her as he sat down. "You are going to be a great mother Karo."

"You think so?" Karolina sniffled as she hugged the teddy bear to her chest.

"I know so," he told her smiling softly.

"This is too expensive Dimka!" Karolina protested as she cuddled the teddy bear. She was very much taken with the toy but also knew that it probably cost Dimitri all of his savings.

"It was worth it, Karo," Dimitri told his sister. "Are you okay?" He asked her what he knew was a silly question, but he didn't know what else to say.

"I am not going to be a Guardian," she told her brother, sniffling softly. While Karolina didn't really want to be a Guardian, it was the most prestigious career for a Dhampir. And because of that she wanted it more than anything.

"So what if you aren't going to be a Guardian, you could do so much more than that now."

"Like what?" She asked him scoffing a little. All she ever thought of was being a Guardian. That was what Dhampir's did, they were Guardians.

"You could go to university! You could do so many other things," Dimitri told her. "You don't have to stay in this world anymore."

"I never thought of it like that," she said thoughtfully. And in truth she hadn't, getting pregnant could mean bigger and better things for her. Dhampir's rarely got college educations, unless they were Guardians with a charge who was going to school. But really being a Dhampir meant you had two options: be a Guardian or have babies. The later option people forgot about.

"And just because you are pregnant and going to be a mother, doesn't mean your life is going to end," he told her. "Think of this as a new adventure, and I will be here for whatever you need."

"I hope so," Karolina said. "Dimitri, thank you."

"For what?"

"For being an amazing brother, I don't know what I would do with out you," Karolina explained. "I really screwed things up, didn't I?"

"No you didn't."

"It was one night you know, one night and it changed my life," she told Dimitri.

Karolina hadn't told anyone how her pregnancy had happened, but being that she was at St. Basil's it was very possible she could have been dating someone. So no one had really asked questions, they just assumed she had been dating someone. The town on the other hand, thought she had been sleeping around. The thought only continued when she wouldn't say who the father was.

"Things happen for a reason," Dimitri told her.

"You sound like Babushka," she smiled at Dimitri. "She told me the same thing, well after she stopped lecturing me." Karolina giggled.

"You know, just because this didn't happen the way you wanted it to, doesn't mean people aren't happy. Mama is thrilled to have a baby in the house! And I am excited to be an uncle," her brother told her grinning.

"I know," Karolina laughed. "You really think I will be a good mother?"

"I think you will be a great mother," Dimitri grinned. "After all you mothered me."

"You are the best brother, Dimka."

"I am going to keep the baby," Karolina told her mother the next day. "But I want to contribute to the expenses, I am not a child anymore. And I don't want to be treated like a child anymore, I am an equal now."

Yeva and Olena were sitting at the kitchen table listening to Karolina announcing what she wanted. They both understood what she was saying, and they respected her for it.

"Okay," Yeva said after a moment.

"Really?" Karolina asked stunned.

"Yes, now Dimitri come out from where you are hiding," Yeva said, knowing her grandson was eavesdropping somewhere. Dimitri popped up from behind the kitchen counter.

"So, you are okay with me getting a job, and treating me as an equal?" Karolina asked just to confirm.

"Yes, yes," Yeva said standing up. "There is a job open at a restaurant down the street." Yeva made her way over to her grandson and smacked him upside the head.

"Babushka!" Dimitri cried out.

"You shouldn't eaves drop!" She scolded.

"I am proud of you, Karolina," Olena said to her daughter.

"Thank you Mama," Karolina gushed.

"Now, we will have to go through what the plans are for when you will give birth," Olena said.

"What plans? She will have the baby here," Yeva grumbled. "All Belikov babies have been born at home."

"I was wondering, if I could have the baby at the hospital," Karolina told them as she shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh, well its expensive," Olena told Karolina trying to deter her from that.

"I know, which is why I will save money and pay for all of it!" Karolina told her mother.

"I guess that's alright, but why don't we decided that later," Olena jumped in noticing the look on her mother's face. "Now, we need to make sure you are taking your vitamins, and there is this herbal tea that Babushka makes that will do wonders for your morning sickness, not to mention a few books. We also will need to get a crib, a changing table, a rocking chair -"

"And clothes, I will start knitting clothes," Yeva said as she made her way to the living room. Yeva knitting clothes was her way of showing that she approved.

"Just a couple more weeks, but it can happen any day now," the doctor told Karolina. She was in the process of going through another check-up.

"Anything I need to know?" Karolina asked as she started gathering her stuff.

"Nothing we haven't already talked about," the doctor smiled at her. "But if you have anymore questions, give us a call."

"Thank you," Karolina said as the doctor made his way out of the room. Shortly after, she had gathered her stuff and made her way out to the waiting room.

Karolina was heavily pregnant now, and very much at that stage where she wanted the baby out. There wasn't much more room for the baby to grow and she was uncomfortable. Her back hurt and she hadn't seen her feet for months. Not to mention her cravings had gone from strange to stranger the past month. She couldn't wait to eat normal food again, and not be pregnant.

"You ready to go?" Dimitri asked as he stood up from where he was sitting.

"Yeah," Karolina smiled at him. "Thanks for coming with me."

"No problem, everything good?" He asked as they started walking home.

"Yup, the baby could come any day now, but my due date isn't for another two weeks," she told him. "Ugh, I need to pee!"

"Again?" Dimitri asked laughing.

"Hey, you try having ten pounds sitting on your bladder," Karolina grumbled to her brother. "The sooner this baby comes out the better."

"You sure you don't want to find out the sex?" Dimitri asked as they got closer to home.

"I want to be surprised, also I want to surprise everyone with the name," Karolina smiled to herself. "I am excited for the baby."

"You should be," Dimitri helped his heavily pregnant sister up the steps of the house.

"Oh I got pee!" Karolina squealed as she rushed into the house and made a bee line for the bathroom. Lately, it seemed as if Karolina had to pee every half hour. Olena had assured her that it was normal, but she was frustrated.

"How was the doctor?" Olena asked as Dimitri made his way into the kitchen.

"It was fine," Yeva grumbled to Olena. "I told you that already."

"I would rather hear it from the people that were actually there," Olena told her mother as she pulled out loaves of black bread from the oven.

"It was good, the doctor said it would be a couple more weeks but she could go any day now," Dimitri filled in his mother.

"I think she will go in about three or four days," Olena speculated.

Olena used to be the midwife for the town before the hospital was built, she had delivered more babies than most experienced doctors. Not to mention she had a sixth sense for when babies would come.

"Oh I hope so Mama," Karolina said as she came into the room. "I am so ready for the baby to be born."

"It will be born soon," Olena comforted her daughter.

"Yeah, well I haven't had a good nights sleep a month," Karolina grumbled. "My back hurts, I wish I could see my feet, and I wish I didn't have to pee every three minutes."

"Every woman gets to that point," Yeva told her granddaughter.

"You should have heard the women complaining when I was waiting for you," Dimitri said as he ate the fresh bread.

"Yeah, well as a man you will never has to experience this," Karolina groaned out.

"Thank god for that!" Dimitri joked.

"I am going to throw something at your head," his sister told him.

"As long as you don't ruin my pretty face," Dimitri teased. "After all I am the only son."

"Dimka?" Karolina asked sweetly.

"Yeah?"

"Put a sock in it!"

"Ouch!" Karolina squealed. She had been having back pain all day and so she had opted to stay home instead of going out with the family. While the pain in her back was annoying the sudden tightness in her stomach was what made her squeal. Another pain came and then she felt as if she had peed herself.

"I am home!" Dimitri shouted as he came into the house. He was home for the weekend from St. Basil's.

"In here, Dimka!" Karolina called out to her brother. She needed help to get up stairs to her room so she could change her pants.

"What happened?" Dimitri asked as he found Karolina in the living room, her bottom half completely soaked.

"I think I just peed," she told him. "Can you help me up?" Dimitri was helping his sister up when she clutched him, and groaned out in pain.

"Karo, I think you are in labor," Dimitri stated eyes wide.

"Oh god!" Karolina looked at Dimitri wide eyed. "What do I do?"

"I don't know! Why are you asking me?" Dimitri started to panic. He had know idea what to do! Even though he had been with her every doctor's appointment, like he promised, he had never gone to the birthing classes.

"Oh god! Pain, radiating!" Karolina shirked out. Her entire back was on fire, and the tightness around her stomach felt as if something was being ripped out of her.

"Uh, breathe," Dimitri told her coaching her through breathing he had seen his mother go through with her. Soon the pain had passed. "We probably should get you to the hospital."

"Mama has the car, we would have to walk."

"Maybe we should stay put, I don't know," Dimitri looked a little panicked. "Let's let's stay put, and I will try to call Mama."

"Okay, okay, can you help me upstairs?" She asked. Dimitri helped his sister up the stairs and got her settled in her room. Racing back down, he grabbed the phone and dialed his mother's cell phone number.

"Hello?" Olena answered the phone after a few rings.

"Mama? Karo is in labor! I don't know what to do," Dimitri panicked on the phone.

"Dimka?" His mother asked him confused.

"Yes, Mama! Who else would call you panicking about Karo being in labor?" Dimitri cried out.

"Dimka, calm down! Take a deep breath," Olena told her son. "Focus on Karo, make sure she is comfortable and help her breathe through the contractions. I will be there as soon as I can."

"Okay," Dimitri breathed out. "Okay." He hung up the phone and raced up the stairs. He just needed to keep Karolina comfortable until his mother got there, he could do that.

"Push!" Olena coached her daughter. Karolina had been in labors for over twenty-four hours, and she was exhausted. She had been pushing for almost an hour now, and she was hoping that the baby would be coming any minute now.

"Oh god," Karolina gasped out as her grip on Dimitri's hand lightened. Dimitri had stayed with her the entire time, and he was pretty sure she almost broke his hand a few times. But he was determined to be there for his sister.

"Almost there Karolina, a few more pushes and the baby will be here," Olena told her daughter. "On the next contraction, I really want you to push as hard as you can."

"I am pushing as hard as I can," Karolina hissed out. "Oh!" She grabbed Dimitri's hand and she squeezed as hard as she could.

"Ouch!" Dimitri hissed out, he was pretty sure that he had heard a crack.

"Shut up Dimitri!" Karolina cried out.

"Good job! On the next one, I want you to breathe through the contraction," Olena coached. "And then the one after that should bring the baby here."

"Okay," Karolina said as she started breathing.

"You are doing such a great job Karo!" Dimitri encouraged. "Soon you will have a beautiful baby!"

"You ready to push again?" His mother asked right as Karolina's contraction ended.

"Yeah," Karolina hissed out as she kept her hold on Dimitri's hand.

"PUSH!"

Karolina pushed as hard as she could. The pain was too much, but it was almost over. She kept on pushing, her grip on Dimitri's hand kept increasing as she kept pushing.

"And done!" Olena announced, taking the baby with her to the bathroom to go clean it up.

"It's done?" She gasped out as she finally let go of Dimitri's hand.

"Yeah, Karo," Dimitri smiled. "You have a baby!"

"Oh I am so tired."

"Well, you just had a baby!" Dimitri grinned at her. "Mama is cleaning up the baby and then will bring it out."

"Here you are," Olena exclaimed. "You have a beautiful baby boy!" She handed her daughter the baby boy. The baby's eyes were open and looking around the room, before settling on its mother.

"Hi baby," Karolina greeted her son. "You are perfect." She held the baby close to her chest, looking down at him. His dark hair was pushed out of his face, and he was looking at his mother in awe. He had long, thick and dark lashes, and adorable chubby cheeks.

"He's a good size, just over ten pounds," Olena told her daughter as she cleaned up everything. "He's beautiful."

"Dimitri do you want to hold him?" Karolina asked her brother who had just been staring in amazement at the baby boy in his sister's arm.

"Uh, yeah," Dimitri stumbled over his words as his sister held out his nephew for him to hold. "Wow."

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is," Dimitri said looking at the baby who was making faces. "What are you going to name him?"

"Paul, after Bubshuka's brother," she told her brother. "I wanted him to have a family name." Paul Belikov, was Yeva's older brother. They had become Guardians together and fought side by side for years. He had died in battle shortly after Dimitri was born. He was a decorated and respected Guardian.

"Paul," Dimitri said softly before handing the baby back to his sister.

"We will give you some peace, Karo," Olena told her daughter as she ushered Dimitri out the door. "Dimka let's take a look at your hand."

Karolina started at the beautiful baby boy in her arms. Paul yawned and snuggled into his mother's embrace before falling asleep. Karolina watched the sleeping baby in her arms, he was perfect and innocent. And in that moment he became her entire world. She loved him more than she ever thought she could love someone. She felt as if she could kill for the little boy in her arms. Her baby boy. Her beautiful baby boy.

"I love you, Paul," Karolina whispered to her son. "My beautiful baby boy."