It was about another day before I was released. Part of it was because Dimitri was so worried, and part of it was because of Guardian Croft.

The delicacy of my pregnancy was brought to his attention, whether by Dimitri or my mother I didn't know, but he didn't want to take any chances. I had a bad feeling that this was going to get back to the Royals, but there was only so much I could worry about at one time.

Once I was released I was agitated, and I needed to walk around or I was going to throat punch someone. The sun was high in the sky and I soaked up every ounce of it that I could. I needed Vitamin D and just wanted to feel the heat soak into my skin.

Dimitri brought me a lighter change of clothes, one of the few sun dresses I had for my personal time. I chose that over my pants and tilted my head up towards the sky. Dimitri followed behind me, carrying the duffle bag that he used to bring me my clothes.

"Has Croft said anything to you about this investigation?"

I turned to look at Dimitri and he had his lips pulled into a tight line.

"There are not many Guardians that want to cross Zmey, Moroi either. It's pretty much him investigating solely at this time," he said darkly.

I scoffed dryly and shook my head. "Wow. Love it," I drowned, eyeballing the large building I knew was guest housing. It was used for Moroi and sometimes Dhampirs, but mostly Moroi.

If the people that I was to trust to stand by my side while facing Strigoi weren't going to help me, I'd do it myself. I walked briskly towards the building and shoved the door open, feeling my nostrils flare as I looked around the main room. I spotted the snake lingering in the lobby, reclined back in a chair with a cigar in his mouth. Because of the late hour, there wasn't anyone else there, just him and a Guardian that lingered nearby.

Rage boiled in my blood as stalked toward him. Dimitri called out to me as he followed me, but I was so angry that Dimitri's reasoning wasn't going to stop me.

Ibrahim noticed me coming and stood up, his eyes flicking back to Dimitri. A slight look of apprehension crossed his face.

"Rosemarie," Ibrahim started but my hand wrapping around his throat cut him off. I pushed him past the chair and slammed him against the wall, the Guardian that was lingering nearby came towards us.

"You fucking snake!" I growled at him, "You almost killed me! You almost killed my baby!"

"Now, now," Ibrahim said but my hand tightened around his neck.

"If I ever see you again, I will slit your throat. Do you fucking understand me?!" I snarled at him.

"Roza, take a deep breath and let him go," Dimitri said calmly, resting his hand on my shoulder but I shrugged him off.

"You may think that you can manipulate everyone around you, but you will not manipulate me. I will not be your Guardian, no matter how much you try to make it that way. I'd rather die than have to be near you. You are a coward, but poison is befitting for a snake," I hissed at him, tightening my hand enough to make him squirm.

"Roza," Dimitri pleaded but another voice joined in.

"Rose, let him go," Janine said firmly. I glanced at the Guardian that was itching to jump between us and then at Janine who moved into my peripheral.

I narrowed my eyes at Ibrahim again before letting go roughly, turning around and stalking away. I made it out of the building and around the corner before I sank down against the wall. I pulled my knees up and I bit my lip to keep it from trembling.

The severity of what I had done came barreling down on me and I rested my head on my knees. I waited for the footfalls of Guardians to come after me, but only two footsteps came.

There was a flutter of fabric as someone knelt in front of me, a hand running through my hair.

"I'm such an idiot," I muttered into my knees.

"It's okay. You have every right to be furious," Janine whispered.

I sniffed and lifted my head to look at her. "I assaulted a Moroi. I threatened them. I've put a black mark on my record and I've been a sanctioned Guardian for all of two seconds."

"I don't think he'll say anything," Janine said.

"Why?"

Janine looked conflicted. "He doesn't want to recruit you as a Guardian. It was a lie that Alberta and I discussed in case he ever came looking for you."

"Then what does he want with me?" I asked tiredly. Dimitri ran his hand over my leg soothingly and gave me a soft look while glancing at Janine out of the corner of his eye.

"He's your father."

I blanched and blinked at her before looking at Dimitri.

"What?"

"I didn't want him near you because of the thing I know he is capable of," Janine said, "I was trying to protect you. It's part of why I didn't visit much. I was worried that he was keeping tabs on me and I didn't want him to find you."

I rubbed my eyes. "My own father tried to kill me."

"Actually, it wasn't you he tried to kill," Janine said glancing at Dimitri.

"It was in Dimitri's glass, and he traded with you. The poison was for Dimitri."

I shook my head and hugged my knees tighter, my stomach pressing against my thighs.

"That doesn't make me feel any better," I whimpered. Dimitri sat on the grass beside me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. I pressed my face into his chest and wrapped my arm around him, curling into him.

There were footsteps coming over the walkway and I lifted my head to see Pavel approaching.

"Don't bother," Janine spat, but Pavel held up his hands.

"He doesn't know I'm here. I'm here personally," Pavel explained as he came to a stop in front of us and crouched down.

"Are you alright?"

I looked at him and shrugged. "How well can someone be after being poisoned?"

Pavel looked at Janine with a small shake of his head. "I told him he was going too far, that it was too easy for someone else to get hurt," Pavel explained sadly.

I rested my head against Dimitri again.

"Did you say, 'your baby'?"

I looked up at him and nodded meekly. "Sixteen weeks."

Pavel shook his head with a sigh and ran his hand through his hair, muttering a curse under his breath.

"Jesus, Abe," he muttered.

"Abe?"

"Nickname," Janine supplied. I shook my head and rubbed my hand over my face.

"I just want to go to bed, I'm exhausted."

"That's fine, I'll take you up," Dimitri said as he lifted me to my feet, keeping his arm wrapped around my shoulder. I stayed close to him, still feeling a little shaken up. Pavel stepped aside for us and turned to Janine, bending his head towards her as they spoke.

I was thankful for the late hour simply so I didn't need to see anyone, and nobody would stop me and ask what happened during the party. Dimitri didn't take me to my room, but straight to his. He unlocked the door and I went straight for the bed, climbing onto it and pulling a pillow down so I could lay on my stomach.

Dimitri locked the door and toed his shoes off before sitting on the end of the bed, carefully pulling my flats off. He crawled up beside me and laid down and ran his hand through my hair from my temple to the back of my head.

"What do you need?"

I looked at him and shrugged. "Maybe something to change into. Other than that, I just need you," I whispered, stroking his cheek. Dimitri nodded and kissed my head and got up, pulling a long sleeve shirt out and setting it on the bed for me. I smiled and got up to get changed while he sat back down, leaning on his elbows. I peeled my dress off and reached behind me to unclasp my bra. I sighed when it loosened, and I tossed it to the floor and smirked when Dimitri sighed.

"See something you like?" I joked as I pulled the shirt over my head.

"You've popped."

"I've what?" I asked, not sure if I should be insulted.

"Your belly is bigger. Bigger than it was yesterday morning," Dimitri commented with a smile, gesturing to my midsection. I cocked my head to the side before running to the attached bathroom, clipping Dimitri's knee in the process. I turned and lifted the shirt as I looked in the mirror, rubbing my hand over my stomach. He was right, it was much more noticeable now. It didn't look like I had eaten a lot of food and was bloated.

It looked like a real baby bump.

I squealed quietly and bounced on my toes as I turned to look at Dimitri, still lounging on the bed.

"It's a bump!"

Dimitri smiled and I skipped back to bed, despite how crappy I felt. I climbed onto the bed and flung my leg over his lap, still holding my shirt up to expose my stomach while I balanced on my knees.

"Look at it!" I squealed. Dimitri laughed and stretched his neck, pressing a kiss over my belly button.

"I see," Dimitri said with a quiet chuckle, resting his hand on my stomach.

"Can you feel the difference, or does it just feel like a belly?"

Dimitri shrugged. "I've felt baby bellies before, it just feels hard until the baby starts moving," he said, kissing my stomach softly.

"How many bellies?"

"Four," he said with a chuckle.

"Really?"

Dimitri nodded. "I was only fourteen when Karolina was pregnant for the first time. I used to lay my head in her lap and my cheek against her stomach. There were other women in Baia who had pregnancies while I was still there. It's sort of a custom in the town to rub the bellies if you knew the mothers personally. Almost as a goodbye when you left."

I hummed and let my shirt drop over my stomach, but Dimitri sat up and placed his other hand on my stomach.

"I'm not done yet," Dimitri chuckled and moved my shirt.

I laughed and watched how my stomach moved with my laughter. Dimitri pressed another kiss to the skin before wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me towards him, my stomach against his chest.

"I don't tell you enough how much I love you," he whispered, "But you are the love of my life."

I cupped his cheeks and dipped my head down, brushing my lips against his.

"Good. Cause you're mine. And you're stuck with me," I giggled.

Dimitri grinned and laid down, pulling me with him. I rolled so I was on my side and curled under the blanket, getting comfortable.

"I'm going to go to your room and grab some of your things. Try to sleep. Is there anything in particular you need?"

I looked up at him bashfully. "Um… under my pillow is a small blue stuff alien looking thing. Can you bring it?"

Dimitri smirked. "Comfort toy?"

I nodded. "I've had it forever. I can't sleep without it when I'm stressed. Please don't laugh," I said with a small chuckle.

Dimitri leaned down and kissed my forehead. "No judgment here, Roza," he said as he got up. I smiled at him and closed my eyes, trying to get in a comfortable position. It didn't feel like long until the door clicked open and closed again, and Dimitri was creeping into the room.

I smiled at him gently and he offered the small alien to me. I took it from him and tucked it under my neck, blushing.

"I know it's childish, it just makes me feel better," I muttered. Dimitri got changed for bed and smiled at me as he climbed into the bed, running his hand over the quilt.

"My mother made this quilt when I was sixteen. I've brought it with me because it provides comfort. Do you know why that provides you comfort?"

I shook my head.

"It was the only thing you had of your mother when you were brought to the Academy," he said.

I raised my brow. "How do you know that?"

"I ran into your mother on the way here. She saw it sticking out of the bag and was surprised you still had it. Apparently, you were in love with the movie as a kid."

"Wait, it's a movie?!"

Dimitri knitted his brows together. "Lilo and Stitch? You haven't seen it since you went to the Academy?"

I shook my head. "No."

Dimitri reached for the remote on the nightstand and turned the TV on, clicking one of the streaming apps and searching for the movies. He found the one he was looking for and turned the volume down so it was at a reasonable level and tucked into bed, holding me gently while the movie started.

I made a face at the sandwich in front of me. I guess the food here was marginally better than at the Academy, but still. Something better would be nice.

"If I give Pudge tuna, I'd be an abomination!" I exclaimed, pushing the sandwich away from me. The smell made my stomach turn in ways I didn't miss.

"Did you just quote a kid's movie?" Eddie asked.

"Hey don't diss Stitch. He's the man" Adrian said as he sat on my other side with a smirk. Dimitri was on my left and simply shook his head. He was probably overhearing me quote the movie.

"I prefer Pudge over 'spawn'," Dimitri commented dryly. I looked at him and smiled brightly at him.

My mother had been right when she told him I was obsessed as a child because I was obsessed now. I watched all the movies and the TV show since coming to court.

Eddie shook his head and continued eating.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked Adrian, "I'm surprised they let a Royal into the Dhampir housing."

"I'm here to see my new Guardian," Adrian said with a smirk.

The three of us looked at each other, Meredith raising a brow.

"We don't know who we have yet," I said.

"Well, I pulled strings," Adrian said.

I looked at him puzzled. "Who?"

Adrian bopped me on the nose playfully with his finger.

"You, silly"

My eyes widened and I gapped at him.

"But I thought..."

"They weren't going to let you be assigned either way, not right now," Adrian said.

My face was crestfallen, and Dimitri rubbed my shoulder affectionately.

"Do you know who we got?" Eddie asked.

Adrian snagged one of his fries and munched on it while shaking his head.

"Yeah, you and Russian are with Lissa, someone named Edwards is with Rose and me, and Christian snagged one, but I can't remember his name."

I felt a little better hearing that. If anyone else had to be Lissa's Guardian, I'd want it to be Eddie.

"At least I know my guarding partner isn't a dick," I said lightly, smiling at Meredith.

"Wait, you?"

"Meredith Edwards," she said extending her hand to Adrian.

"Now, I hate to break it to you, but Rose is not actually guarding right now, for obvious reasons."

Meredith furrowed her brows and looked at me.

"It's not public yet," Eddie said with a pointed look at Adrian.

Meredith still looked confused so I stood up and leaned over the table toward her.

"I'm pregnant, and somehow Lissa's magic made it possible for me to conceive with a Dhampir. That's why Adrian said they weren't going to give me an assignment."

I had to give it to Meredith, she kept her expression neutral and processed it with dignity.

"Are you happy about this?"

I smiled at Dimitri and rested my head on his shoulder, silent telling Meredith who the father was.

"We are thrilled, despite it being such a surprise. Part of the reason is that the baby is growing faster than usual. I'm technically only 15 weeks but measure at 20."

Meredith nodded and continued eating. "That's rough. But you're barely showing."

"I've gotten good at hiding it," I snickered, pinching fruit from Dimitri's tray. Not that he would complain about that. As long as I was eating something healthy, he didn't care if I stole his food. Dimitri traded me stew for the sandwich and I happily ate it before standing up with a groan.

"Alright, I have to go see Croft. I'll see you after your shift," I said to Dimitri, leaning down and kissing his cheek. Dimitri made a quiet noise in his throat and smiled at me.

"Let me know when you're done?"

I nodded and headed off for Croft's office. I kicked a few stones that were in my way as I went, my hands tucked into my pockets. I looked up at the sky and was disappointed that the stars were so dull tonight. Sometimes they would shine so bright out here, but tonight they were barely there.

It was strange that it was so deserted outside though. Usually, this area of town was busy at this time of day, but it was a ghost town. Maybe it was because of the parties that were happening now that the summer was here, or maybe because it was humid out and the Moroi were hiding inside with their air conditioners.

But being alone outside meant that I was on edge again.

That edge wasn't enough. I would have noticed I was being followed if I wasn't so consumed by how quiet it was. It wasn't until the bag was over my head that I realized my errors.

Surprise! Early update...Can you all tell that I'm bored of bedrest/easy rest yet?

Let me know what you think!:)