Chapter 10

Now early August, I was about five months along.

Still a little small for my size, my doctor has me on stress leave, because of the last few unwanted circumstances.

Just a few weeks ago we had to change locations again. During one of my few trips to town for my appointments, we ran into trouble. After a long day in town we got ambushed by a few Strigoi who happened to recognize my face. Just before Pavel and my guardians disposed them, they informed me 'he' was getting closer, that it would be just a matter of time before he would find me. He was getting closer I could feel it.

Getting back to the compound, we had a long discussion with Abe, I was shipped out to the next hidden location and my guardians would be under strict orders to train under me in the arts of Dimitri Belikov hunting three days a week.

The other issue was the this killer heartburn, I'd rather fight a Strigoi with one hand than have to feel this intense feeling.

"Old man," I said bursting through the doors of his study not bothering to knock.

"Yes Rose, What is so important you couldn't knock before coming in?" Abe replied, giving me a stern look. " Well since I'm not allowed to train anymore besides light exercises or teaching, I'm bored." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"And you would like me to do what about it ?" Abe asked, giving Guardian Pavel a 'what do I do look. Which he got a shrug in return.

"Well a burner phone would be great, I'd like to talk to Lissa, please." I asked. Even though it's risky to talk to her, I needed her to talk to her more than ever, especially with this surprise inside of me. Giving him a stern look, I was so not backing down.

Abe just sighed. Knowing him he was going to lose this battle, he reached Into his desk and hands the burner phone to me. " Make it quick, also keep our location and any important details vague," Abe explained. "I do trust the princess, but sometimes we have unwanted listeners close by who would use her for their selfish agenda."

Nodding my head, I rush out the door to my room, but before I excited the room I said.

" Oh! Also old man, tell my guards to meet me in the gym in a few hours, they need to go over more on Mission; Save Dimitri. I certainly would like to hopefully not have to kill my child's father before having the chance to save him." Then excited the room.

Laying on my bed I dial a number I knew off by heart.

"Hello Lissa speaking ?"Lissa's soft voice spoke probably confused on the unknown number calling her.

I didn't reply. Why didn't I answer back?

"Hello?" She asked.

"H-hey Liss.." I mumbled.

"Rose! Oh my gosh, thank goodness you called,"She rambled, followed by a faint sob. " Adrian said you are okay, but I needed to know myself."

"Don't worry I'm okay, I'm sorry. Truly sorry for running off again, I also broke my promise to you," I apologized.

"Rose it's okay I get it, at first I didn't but Christian helped me understand your reasons." She whispered. " Sometimes I am selfish and never pay attention to my actions. I can be selfish but sometimes you need to be selfish too. So take as long as you need, I will compel the whole court for you to be my guardian when you get back, just focus on you right now."She ordered softly.

Causing my heart to explode, only my best friend would order me to put myself first.

"About that, there is something I need to tell you. However before that, I would be thankful if you could promise me to listen and keep an open mind before judging me." I explained. " Also to maybe keep it quiet till I get around to solving the mystery first, I would like to have solid proof."

"Oh…o-okay?" A confused Lissa agreed back to me. "Now your freaking me out, are you okay?"

"Oh I'm alright, I'm.. just … pregnant." I said nervously laughing.

"Your what?" Her elegant voice questioned, most likely thinking she misheard my words. " Care to repeat that, I swear I just head you say the word pregnant come from your mouth?"

" I am pregnant," I repeated. " Thought the father is dhampir Lissa."

"Dhampir? But how is it a dhampir's child, everyone knows they can't have kids together Rose."

So much for an open mind.

" Look I know it's hard to believe it but it true, the only man I ever slept with is Dimitri. In this situation I would think the same as you Lissa, but I'm telling you the truth."

"Rose, if you slept with a Moroi and he won't step up don't be ashamed. Christian and I will always be there for you. You have friends and people who care and would be happy to help out." She genuinely replied. Her word meant a lot, knowing my best friend would have my back was great and all, but she needed to know the truth.

" No Lissa, you don't understand…I ,"Suddenly at a loss of words. What do I say to make her understand. " What I said is true. Trust me I know it's hard for you to understand but you just have to believe me, I only slept with Dimitri, he is my child's father."

No reply.

" You can even ask Adrian, he's seen me in person eh – dream, you know what I mean. Besides the only people I was around in that time span was Dimitri, Eddie and Adrian. Ask them."

"Oh o-okay, well than how is it possible."

"Well… about that," I trailed off nervously.

It was either now or never.

So I explained everything. Starting with my theory on how I think her healing me from death changed something inside of me, making it possible to produce kids with another dhampir. Another side effect of being shadow kissed. This time being a positive thing, but also at what cost does the impossible bring.

Keeping certain details out, I explained how I was trying to find a way to being Dimitri back to his original state. Thought being pregnant changed my plans in this mission, I have also have two skilled guardians training with Pavel and I currently to take my place in the field. On Abe's orders.

" Wow! This is the great Rose ! Oh my gosh! I'm going to be an Aunt!" She squealed, her high pitch blasting through the phone. " I can't wait for her to be spoiled." Her ? Her to be spoiled. Oh lord she is in for a disappointment.

"Well about that… He will be spoiled." I revealed. Which reminds me to start thinking of names instead of 'it'. Preferably something both Dimitri and I can both share.

"He! He! Your having a boy," she dramatically whined. " But..But.." She pouted through the phone, clearly wanting a niece, not a nephew. Which kinda amuses me for some reason.

"Well I guess it will do for now,"She grumbled.

" Next time we may get a girl to dress up."

Next time, what next time? Who does she think I am. Since when did I say I'm going to turn into a dhampir baby making machine now, this lady is NOT having another child.

" Nah uh, this lady is having one, only one,"I told her firmly. " You wanna girl to spoil, go pop out your own child, this garage is out of business after this surprise, no more for me." Standing my ground. The thought of doing this alone is scary, having another is down right horror.

"Oh alright, but will you be back before graduation right?"

"Liss, you know I can't. Right now I would like nothing more than to see you graduate but it's not safe for you or the baby." I explained. " Right now I'm working on a way to get to you as soon as possible, but I didn't expect the impossible to throw a curve ball at me along the way. Just hang in a bit longer."

" I understand, I just really wanted to see you. Until then I'll focus on graduating and work with Adrian on finding anything we can on shadow kissed and it's side effects. Hopefully we can find out how this happened." She said excitedly.

"No, right now I want you and Adrian to focus on the important research you guys have been working on. I'll personally deal with this and Dimitri personally."

"But.."

"No buts! I will not lose you to him Lissa, it's bad enough that I could lose him forever but I will be damned losing you too!" I chastised. "Please don't make me go through it again!"

Her voice trembled. "I..I'm sorry, However I am worried about you too, I lost my family I can't lose you to! I may not be strong and able to fight, but I want to help."

" I understand."

"Not just me to, everyone misses you ."

"I miss you guys too."

"I miss you more though , I wish I could celebrate this exciting news and take you shopping," she sighed. "Hopefully things will get better and you can come home to us, it's not the same anymore. Everyone is all mopey without you ,even Christian."

"Awe that's cute, tell him I miss him too and that we can braid each others hair and paint our nails when I get back." I teased. " Oh and don't forget to mention the pillow fights and the romantic chick flicks." I grinned, knowing Christian will have something to say about that.

"Oh Rose, be nice," In her soft chastising voice. "He won't admit it to anyone, but he kinda was down the first few days you left again. He was even all mopey when it was just the two of us." She giggled.

Truly making me happy to hear her laugh after been away from her yet again for so long.

"He was? That flaming outcast missed me, who knew," I laughed, kinda getting what he means. Not admitting it to anyone either, but I missed the little shit too.

Speaking for a bit longer about our lives, I got lost in time talking about the old days when things where easier and stress free.

Glancing up at my alarm clock, I cursed as Lissa was speaking. Shit! I'm going to be late!

Muttering a few excuses and promises to call soon, I quickly ended the phone call and changed into comfy clothes. Though I can't spar and train with them, I can still help out with basics while teaching them about my Russian mentor.

Giving them the advantage of knowing their targets strengths and weaknesses will benefit the mission and not lose there lives in the process.

"And again," I ordered as Jackson clipped Brendan in the jaw with a right hook. " Brendan focus on stance it's sloppy, just a few moves and Dimitri will have you meeting your maker. He will not hesitate to use your weaknesses against you. Trust me he is a very observant man, with extra abilities being a Strigoi as a is a big disadvantage."

Nodding his head, he moves into position and gets ready on defence for a few rounds. " Alright switch, Jackson take defence, Brendan get ready to take offence."

Circling each other I jotted down minor details that needed important improvement from each of them . Watching as Jackson blocked Brendans kick, you could tell the difference between them. Brendan was more obvious and less coordinated, whiles Jackson was more observant and more skilled between the two. Both great guardians in their own way, but two very different levels.

"Excellent defence Jackson, perfect footing,"I praised. "Now if only Brendan could do that we would getting somewhere."

Causing him to look my way and glare, giving Jackson a opening to kick him backwards. " Focus! Being distracted will end up killing you or your charge. How have you lived this long." Causing Jackson to grin at Brendan's figure on the floor."

" Rose, your father has asked me to come get you," Pavel called as he entered the gym. Clearly disturbing my entertainment of the evening, Brendans ass whooping.

"Yes, tell him I will be there shortly. " Not nothing to face him.

"Miss Hathaway, I would prefer you come now it's urgent." He urged, clearly not going to leave till I follow him. "Alright. Fine."

"You two keep practicing, Brendan work on that footing of yours." I instructed before following Guardian Pavel to Abe's office.

"What is so urgent that you had to interrupt training." I asked Abe when I walked in the room.

"Hello to you as well child." Abe sarcastically greeted me pulling a letter from his suit pocket. " It would seem that Mr. Dashkov has finally answered my note.

Rose,

It would seem that fate has given you a nice challenge in which only I can help you. What a rather interesting turn of event, don't you think?

And to learn that you and your father has requested an interest in my half brother Robert.

As I said to him I will say to you,

My freedom for his location.

Fail to do so,

You will spend a life time without your lover.

V.D

"Son of a bitch." I yelled.