(Disclaimer I do not own any of the characters that would be Richelle Mead)
Rose POV
"So how's Zara's baby and are the others far enough along that the risk is minimal?" I ask Craig.
"Both mother and baby are doing great. Baby is Dhampir healthy and Zara's C section scar is healing nicely. The others are all over seven months along so yes they are past the dangerous period. They are far enough along now that if needed we can deliver them safely and baby should be fine with a little more care. Obviously we are keeping a close watch and the nearer to due date the better." Craig finishes by taking a folk load of noddles into his mouth.
"And Zara's baby's DNA, is the nucleotide active like mine and Ivans?" I ask
"Yes and as she's female she can get pregnant and carry to full term as you did without medication." This is fantastic news this means the more Dhampir/Dhampir births that happen the more females will be born that can carry to full term without the shots needed to reproduce.
"Yes!" I say fist pump to go along side it. Both of them laugh.
"Well I think it's time to push forward then. As planned we first start with the knowledge well okay rumours in the communes." I look up at both asking for their input to see if we are still on the same page. Both look at me and give a single nod, that was all that was needed.
"Is your mum still working with the guardians that help us with the charity?" Tasha asks while preoccupied with trying to feed Luka.
"Yes and now that this has happened and the proof and research we have gathered over the last five years has been completed I will tell her it's time for the next stage."
My mum over the last five years has been putting feelers out to all the guardians, she has done this cautiously as one slip up could land us all in front of the royals before we had enough evidence or outside support to save our hides. So first it was under the guise of helping older and retired guardians have a more comfortable retirement. After all not many get to that point in the first place. The guardians that were attracted to this were progressive enough to that point. She then started with the idea of helping female guardians that were pregnant and wanted to raise their child and still work. This never happens if your female and have a child you have two options. Give your child up and go back to guarding as my mother did, or leave and enter a commune. Nice right women's lib hello! The idea never went further as not enough people stepped up to help. But those that did we knew really wanted change. Again my mum vetted the guardians that were interested in this. Slowly slowly over the last five years shes got a picture of which guardians were more progressive and also wanted change.
"So once the word is given how long before your mother is able to get it done?" Craig asks while taking a sip of wine.
"Everything is in place I just need to say the word. Our trusted scientist will go into hiding who knows where! The guardians will crash his scary secret lab." Air quoting the last part. "and my mother will find all the scientific evidence and notes which include mine and Ivans blood work and the words shadow kissed e.c.t e.c.t" I pause to take a sip of my own wine before continuing
"That evidence being passed around first to all the guardians who are already wanting change, then the rest. Along with the rumours and children already born to Dhampir/Dhampir parents in the communes and bam the whole of the Moroi society will be a buzz within 48 hours."(after all that's all the time needed for my pregnancy to be announced in our society!) "The royals won't be able to stop it, hell they won't even be able to slow down the fall out." I'm actually getting excited now. Finally our plans are all coming together.
Tasha looks down and stares at her half eaten food. "Tash spit it out" I say already knowing what is coming.
"This is really going to hurt both of them finding out this way. But you already know that. I was hoping he wouldn't have to find out this way that you were going to tell him before. Can't you try Rose before we go ahead?" I pull a deep breath in I know what she is saying is true and even though I still harboured some bitterness I no longer wanted to cause either of them pain or hurt.
"Tasha if I tried now they still wouldn't believe me, they're all about the science. Even though that's totally laughable as what's happening now is totally down to science."
"But rose if he just saw Ivan he'd know he was his." She pleads
"Come off it Tash Ivan could be his bloody doppelgänger and he would still be totally logical. Also how am I supposed to do it 'hi Dimitri I'm on a deadline so here's your son now must dash and change our world!' It's to late we need to get this ball rolling the longer we wait the more we risk the royals getting wind of this and being able the thwart our plans. Our plan is reliant on blindsiding them and having this news everywhere before they can get their bearings."
Tasha knows I'm right but still looks dejected. "I know your right I just hope that he will be able to forgive you and himself after all this."
"Believe it or not so do I and I still want him to have a relationship with his son. It's to late for us but not for the both of them."
After that heavy conversation we finished dinner on light chatter of what else has been happening while Tasha helped Luca finish his food. "Tasha I have to ask. What the hell are you feeding that poor kid?!"
While Tasha bathed and put Luca to bed I showered and changed into some unflattering PJs hey I was never a girly girl and they are comfy! Plus who was I trying to attract! Knocking at the door Tasha comes in and sits with me on the bed.
Not looking at me she stares at the wall "What about the Moroi?"
I knew what she was asking, did I think the Dhampir would just up and leave all Moroi unguarded. None of us wanted to fight the Moroi even though the fight would be laughable. The Moroi would not last an hour as they have allowed themselves to become harmless. We however didn't want that we just wanted equality in our society and respect. We were fed up of bowing down and feeling like third class citizens the non royals being the second class. It was time for our people to look forward not back.
"If your asking would dhamps just abandon them. I think some will choose to go but on the whole most will stay maybe some would actually come back. Mere would for one. But I don't think guardians will guard singular any longer and I don't think most will stick to their royals either. Remember a lot of guardians have had to stand there and watch their charge bite and abuse dhamps in dens, dhampir who had no other choice if they wanted to survive. Once this comes out Dhampir will have a choice. I think the outcome will very much depend on how the royals handle this." Tasha doesn't look convinced oh she would do it as it's the right thing to do and she hoped that logic will win, the fact that 90% of Moroi are decent hard working non fascist.
"I hope your right as this could be freedom for Dhampir and death to Moroi. I want a future for Luca but I also want Chris and Lissa to be safe and have happiness." She breaths out a heavy sigh then takes a deep breath back in. Turning to face me. "I will contact our people in the communes and tell them it's time. The rumours will get round quickly but it will take at least a month to get back to the royals giving us time for the other babies to be be born." With that she gives me a kiss on the head and leaves the room.
I pick up my phone and dial a number that I know by heart now. "Hathaway."
The way she answers her phone always makes me giggle. "Honestly mum you probably scare others half to death with that hello!"
"Well if they're that much of a wuss maybe they should look at other career options! What is it darling and how's Ivan?" I love her I honestly do but she always sounds like she's telling me off for something. It took me a while to understand that's just the way she speaks.
"Ivan is good safely hidden at st.Vlads and it's time. We are going to start with the communes and in a month it will be time for you to find the evidence and lab work." I listen to her breathing on the other side of the phone wondering why she hasn't answered me then finally.
"So this is finally happening our kids are finally going to have a better future then we have had." It was more stated then asked "Okay darling one month from today all hell is going to break loose you'd better stick it in your calendar!"
I almost choke. "Wow mum you made a joke don't hurt yourself now!"
"Very funny Rosemarie you look after yourself and be careful once this gets out everyone will be looking for you. Make sure to keep your cover up and your identity safe." She instructs me sounding like she's ordering a ten year old about.
"Will do and mum I love you."
"I love you too darling."
After putting the phone down to my mother I phone Abe. "Baba it's time it's happening in a month."
"Okay I'll move the doctor tomorrow and to be safe I'll tell Pavel that I want him with Ivan for over a month and the other guardians at the academy that are loyal to me will be advised that they need to keep an eye on him too."
"Okay old man stay safe."
"You to kiz stay hidden once that paperwork comes out every Moroi good or bad will be looking for Rosemarie Hathaway we can't let them get their hands on you, Ivan or the others. Once the Dhampir realise what this fully means they will probably kill to keep you safe but until then stay hidden."
After that there was no way I'd be sleeping easy tonight.
