(Disclaimer I don't own the characters just this little tale the rest is Richelle Mead)

Rose POV

The next three weeks felt oddly serine outside while inside I was as nervous as a Turkey on thanksgiving. I was now back in our strong hold in Turkey. Three of the five babies had now been born all looking healthy and the new mums overjoyed that their little ones are doing well. God I was missing my son and all the talk of the new editions was making me miss Ivan even more, and knowing for his safety I wouldn't get to see him for at least another month was heart wrenching.

We now had to wait just over a week for the raid my mother was leading on the labs to find the evidence.

In the meantime the rumour mill was churning in the communes as more and more of our people were constantly running their mouths off about the children they have seen from two Dhampir parents, and of meeting Rosemarie Hathaway and her child who is obviously from her and another Dhampir. Obviously coz he looks just like that famous guardian. Yeah you know the one with no names given! As perfectly predicted these rumours were jumping from one commune to another and the same was happening a cross the ocean in the old world of Russia.

Even though this was exactly what we were hoping for we have to keep an eye out for these conversations becoming so well heard that they land up being talked about in court or other Moroi settings. That could end up being disastrous for the upcoming plan, as that would give the royals enough time to counter the gossip and maybe even being prepared to stop the evidence from the raid coming out. This was keeping the whole team on high alert for any shift in behaviour or any specific words used at meeting, functions or even private conversations between royals at court. The guardians under my fathers pay packet were definitely earning their extra dollars at the moment! Obviously they were ignorant to what was actually going on. They only new that we wanted to know any gossip that was being passed around and if there was any change in behaviour. The guardians probably thought Zemy was blackmailing their charges again over something!

We had to risk it though as we needed the Dhampir to believe the findings quickly before the royals could instil doubt into their minds. The science was solid and obviously true but from the beginning of time the only way to make Dhampir children was either Moroi with human or Moroi with Dhampir. So a lot will also ride on instilling the idea into their minds before the final push.

Lucky for us dhamps in communes have little trust in Moroi and have so far kept the gossip amongst themselves, and any Moroi who have heard either are the few who have also made their home in those communes therefore have little to do with the Moroi at court or have dismissed it as nonsense. The biggest threat comes from the royal men or rich arseholes that decide its time to visit a den in a commune to get a fix of some Dhampir loving and no female Dhampir trusts them even so called bloodwhores. As I said so far so good. Let's just hope this continues for another nine days.

Abes POV

Eight days before I finally change our world. This is the thing I can do for my daughter. I can give her back her pride, I can finally make those friends see that she did not lie to them, that after all she was put through she kept her baby safe and that she changed our world for the benefit of all Dhampir.

I know I was there throughout it and yes I was the one with the means to help her achieve this, but in the end it was her body that made the research possible.

I will respect her wishes about the father being in my Torun life but I will make it clear to him one wrong move and I will have both his knees broken. I will not have him hurt Ivan or Rose again no matter my friendship with Yeva. She says that it's to late for her and him to ever have more than "he is the father of my child" kind of relationship but I know she's lying to herself. After all she's to much like me. Once we love we just can't seem to shake it. I mean look and Janine and I. 23 years and I would take her back in a heartbeat. Okay different situation but still there has not been anyone else in my heart since her. If he wanted her back I know she'd eventually crumble and end up back in his arms. I just hope that if that's the case she makes him work for it.

It's annoying as I know that he is a decent person but the fact that he honestly thought she was lying and did not trust her angers me. Hopefully he will no longer think of her in that way. I know that would hurt her even though she'd never admit it. But maybe that is what's needed for her to finally move on from him. But honestly who wouldn't love my Kiz. She's beautiful, smart and the best of everything that's me and her mother. It makes her a handful but no one else comes close to her.

As for the princess apart from what she has done to Rose she is a voice for Dhampir on the council which is needed in the upcoming times to stop a total split between our people happening. I might not personally like her for what she did but I know we need her. So she should count herself lucky that's the case as I will leave her alone. Janine however she should look out for as no one can control that temper once ignited. What can I say it's the Scottish in her!!!

I can't let my people get distracted everything has to be run with military precision for the next few month to ensure everything runs smoothly and to keep everyone I love safe, from the raid to keeping Rose and Ivans identity under wraps until it's safe for them to come out. After that we are all going on a vacation as I feel we all need it.

Sometimes I wish that Rose didn't want to go this far and would of been happy just living her life as my guardian who helped out Dhampir. Eventually taking over my businesses and living a life of security never needing for anything. But then she wouldn't be mine and Janine's daughter if she didn't dream about rising above her station and changing her world.

With me it was getting more powerful then the almighty royals. With Janine it was showing that female Dhampir could make the best guardians and with Rose once pregnant by another Dhampir it was showing her ex lover and best friend she wasn't lying to them. But somewhere down the line it became more it became a chance at freeing Dhampir from Moroi abuse and knowing that could only be achieved by Dhampir being able to chose who really fathers their children.

Lissa POV (7 days until raid)

God this is maddening we have tried several times to get near Mason but each time his guardian whisks him away. We haven't even been near enough to even truly see if he looks like her. I mean come on what does he think that we would honestly hurt the child. It is obvious by now that they know we have figured out that Anna is Rose otherwise he wouldn't be so keen about keeping him away from us. Either that or Mason looks so much like her that once we see him properly we would figure out his mothers identity.

I can't even get his full name as administration has classified it to only those that need to know. So as Alberta won't tell us we go by Mason.

Mason does not spend his weekends on academy grounds. He is taken out during human daytime Friday and is back Sunday before sunset. This keeps him safe from strigoi attacks. During the week it's harder for us to attempt seeing the child as Chris is doing magic lessons with the older students, Dimitri is either in combat lessons with the older novices or on duty and as for myself I'm either on shift in the infirmary or researching our histories. The elementary school runs on a different time so by the time we finish our day the children there are already getting prepared for dinner and curfew.

I have put several requests to Pavel under the guise that Chris just wants to know how his aunt Tasha is doing. Each request has been denied with the answer that the last time Mason was in Tasha's presence was over two years ago and was to young to remember her. Also Pavel has not left the boys side honestly that man is a better guardian then even Dimitri and I thought that was an impossibility!

Dimitri tried to get assigned to one of the younger Dhampir classes. His excuse to have more variety to his day. Again request denied as his skill set was needed for the older students and keeping the academy safe. That one I think was Alberta who probably new full well that we would try to get near Mason even though she told us no. She can't control Chris and my actions but she can definitely throw a spanner in Dimitris.

So apart from seeing Mason from afar we have not been able to confirm our suspicions as that would take getting closer to be sure. I'm not giving up though either I will get close enough to talk to him or to see for sure that he is Rose's son. Or I'll wait and then pounce on his mum when she picks him up. But then Pavel could be taking him to her every weekend so that she doesn't have to come here. If that's the case then they definitely know that we know. Confusing!

Chris is getting so wound up that he is now looking for Tasha's contact details in the human world. I keep trying to tell him that she probably has them hidden. I know he wants to fix what happened to Rose. He also wants to break the rules of our society and talk to Tasha using this as the perfect excuse to do so. But if he does this we could all end up in hot water. I allow him this as I know it will probably amount to nothing. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack. He doesn't even know what her new last name is, where she lives now or even if she is still in the US. But if he finds something will I have the heart to tell him no, I really hope I don't have to find out.

Alberta POV (6 days until raid)

Those three are driving me insane. I know full well that they have not taken me seriously when I said stay away from Ivan. I failed when it came to protecting his mother when she was here I will not fail with him.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe what she said about his parentage is true. She didn't actually tell anyone apart from Dimitri and the princess. It was Dimitri who told me her wild tales of becoming pregnant by him and the reason behind it was her being shadow kissed. At the time like him I thought she had made the whole thing up to cover the fact that she had slept with someone behind his back. In a way I felt his betrayal and I saw the hurt of losing his love hit him so hard the man could not even breath naturally. I also wanted to ensure that through her lies she would not hurt Dimitri as she was still a student therefore he could of ended up in deep shit being her mentor.

In my role as his friend I didn't fight for her as hard as I could of. I mean that girl was good enough to graduate there and then and still be classed as top novice. But Kirova wanted her gone and was petty enough in her hatred to not care about losing an outstanding fighter from our midst. If we were honest with ourselves even if we did fight harder then what we did for her the outcome would of probably been the same with Kirova calling the shots.

Even if Ivan is Dimtri's or not it does not matter. I told those three to stay away. If Rose wanted them near him she would of allowed it but as that's obviously not the case I can at least abide by those wishes for her and keep them away.

Dimtiri POV (2 days to the raid)

"Hi mama how are you?"

Today is Wednesday my day off every week apart from Sunday's. Lissa gives me this day either as a whole day or half day for the last couple of years so that I can call my family. When I first came to America I spoke to them weekly then slowly the calls became less and less frequent and before I new it I hadn't talked to my family in years. It's not that I was avoiding them or did not wish to talk to them. The job and life got in the way and before I new it, it had been months then years since I spoke to them. It was the same after graduation when I left to guard Ivan.

Then a couple of years ago I got word from my sister Vika that my babushka was very sick and might not make it. Lissa insisted that I take a couple weeks off and fly back to Russia and spend time with my family. I know that I have been blessed with both of my charges since graduation. Ivan who was my best friend since before I became a guardian was very kind to all. It did not matter that he was a royal and you were a Dhampir. He was fun loving and yes he had many women both Moroi and Dhampir, he treated them with respect. They all new that it would not be a long term relationship but he would never dream of demeaning a Dhampir girl to blood whore Status.

Lissa on the other hand has been in a stable relationship for six years and engaged to be married next summer. Both her and Christian want a future where Moroi and Dhampir are equal and fighting side by side to get rid of the evil that has plagued our kind for ever. We know that we will never fully get rid of the strigoi but we can get their numbers down to a point that our people are a lot safer. But the only way to do this is if our own numbers increase and we all work together and fight. I have never seen her lose her temper or demean anyone of a lesser rank then herself. Oh I have seen her want to rip apart other royals specially the ones that have disgusting views on Dhampir especially how to treat the females.

We were lucky and Yeva came out of the illness and is now well. The doctors do insist that every fourth Tuesday she has to come into the local hospital for a blood test to make sure that her kidneys are still working properly. Babushka being her normal moody self moans about this saying she is fine and doesn't need some whippersnapper telling her if her body is about to stop working and that if she is about to drop down dead she would know before them! Hence my call every Wednesday to make sure the test results are clear and to catch up with my mama, sisters and their kids.

"Hello Dimka how are you son. Is the academy life treating you well and the princess is healthy and well?" That my mama always caring for others even if she has never spoken or met them.

"Yes mama everything is good on this end. Everyone is busy with their work. Christians classes are attracting more Moroi every week. Lissa is finding some interesting facts from our past but sadly nothing she feels will sway the council in our favour for more rights, but she is not one to give up. And well my job here does not change!"

"That's good Dimka. I'm glad you are in a more safe environment I want you to be alive and stay that way." Mama is no fool to the dangers of my job and is in constant fear for me. In two years my nephew Paul will also be a guardian then my family will not only be in daily fear for me and Vika but him too. It's not an easy life.

"Mama how is babushka did the tests come back okay?" I ask quickly changing the subject.

"Oh yes son everything is fine that woman will outlive all of us." We both half laugh, half acknowledge that thats probably true.

"Well good and the rest of the family how are they?" I ask wishing that I could talk to all of them like the old days when we were all at home.

"Oh they are all fine. Vika's charge is flying to court next week for a few weeks to see family there. Both your other sisters are busy with work. Paul, Zoya and Katya will be coming home from the academy for the holidays in a couple of months. Their mothers and myself can't wait to see them all. They are all getting so big it's amazing how fast they are growing. I wish you could come home and see them. Spend some time with your family." Her voice betrays the wishful thinking for me being able to spend more time with them. I know she misses me.

"Hopefully soon mama once I get enough leave built up and enough money for plane tickets I promise that I will visit." Wishing that I could go home more often I to miss them and Russia. America still feels like a foreign country to me even though it's been almost 7 years.

"Okay Dimka. Oh you should hear the rumours going round the communes over here. They are amazing. Actually if I'm hearing it correctly the same rumours are also going round in the US and other countries."

Oh here we go again there's always something being said. Usually about a royal acting out or a Dhampir who has fallen from grace. "What is it this time mama a royal lost it while drunk again?"

"No Dimka there are a few children born of two Dhampir parents and they even say that people have seen them and that the hospitals have confirmed this through their DNA which proves that both parents are definitely Dhampir. Son can you imagine if what they are saying is true. What that could mean for the future of our kind?" Wishful thinking.

"Mama you know this is a hoax. If this was possible we would of found out along time ago and it wouldn't be through the idle gossip of the populace of the communes. It's total nonsense. Mama your a healer and midwife you know better." I dismiss her and I think maybe I've hurt her a little. Yes we would all like to believe that this could be true but realistically I know better and I'm a little harsher than I should of been for this hit me below the belt considering what happened five years ago.

"I know son sorry it's silly gossip and I shouldn't of bothered you with it. I just thought you'd find it funny to hear." She adds sounding a little embarrassed to of brought it up.

"Oh I'm sorry mama I didn't mean to snap at you, just you know I've never been one to listen to gossip. Anyway I'd better go. I'll speak to you next week okay?"

"Okay Dimka talk soon, love you son." She finishes off.

"Love you too mama say hi to everyone for me."

I shouldn't of snapped at my mother but that brought up all my buried emotions from Rose's pregnancy and her claims. The nonsense that is now going around just had to be the very thing that I have run from for the last five years!

Mia POV (a day before the raid)

Sitting at court waiting for Adrian and Eddie in our usual cafe. I know Adrian went to see Sydney yesterday and Eddie as one of his guardians went to the commune with him. Poor Adrian after losing Rose it took forever to get over the lose. I know he felt betrayed as she wouldn't give him a chance, as she wanted to be with Dimtiri to just end up cheating on him with someone else and getting herself knocked up. At least if it were Adrian's kid he says he would of stood by her. But we all know with his aunt that probably would not of happened. Okay she probably wouldn't of ended up a blood whore like she probably is now but would of still ended up in a commune and not a guardian.

Eddie too took Rose's expulsion hard. First losing Mason which brought Eddie and Rose closer having to comfort each other through their grief, then losing her a few months later when she became pregnant. I know he feels responsible for the fact that he snubbed her and called her a useless blood whore. He said the words in anger I think he did not realise they would be the last words he would say to her. It was the reason he agreed to Adrians request to ask for him as a charge. If both Moroi and Dhampir ask to be assigned to each other the guardian council will work hard to make it happen. Eddie new that Adrian was looking for Rose and all Eddie wanted was to find her and say sorry for the way he acted and the words he said.

In Adrians search to find out what happened to Rose he met Sydney. An Alchemist who after months of persuasion agreed to help in his efforts. Feelings grew and now they are very much in love. Only Eddie, Lissa, Chris, Dimitri and I know about the relationship as Sydney even though a Alchemist is still human. If the council found out he would probably be given the choice of giving her up or being banished from our society. Why I have no idea the Alchemists already know about us, it's not like we are risking our secret. Oh and aunt Tati would just coo over the Dhampir children they'd produce! Then again Sydney would probably have to face the same outcome if her people found out as they all think we are all evil creatures of the night! Just that strigoi are worse so better the devil you know scenario.

Anyway Adrian's search for Rose amounted to nothing and he finally admitted defeat a few years ago. We all prayed that she was okay and that her child was healthy, there just was no where else to look and nothing more we could do. If all the money and resources behind Adrian could not uncover her location then nothing else would.

Seeing Adrian and Eddie striding into the cafe all attitude and confidence makes me smile at both of them. Adrian and Eddie have become friends over the last five years and seeing them like that still makes me laugh. Don't get me wrong when we first met Adrian we all thought he was a typical arrogant stuck up royal that thought he was better than us, but as time went on we could see that he actually had more respect for non royal Moroi and Dhampir then he did for the majority of the royals. His father hates him for this attitude and I would say that's a shame but Adrian despises his father so really no lose.

Eddie sits beside me and kisses my cheek. This causes a few looks so I make sure I flash my engagement ring. "Yes people I a Moroi am marrying a Dhampir guardian so suck it up." I say in my head! As a Moroi this has tongues wagging but no action will be taken as long as it does not interfere with Eddie's ability to do his job. Doesn't hurt that Adrian is in full support of the romance. Having the Queen's favourites nephew in your corner shuts people up quick and fast.

"Hey Adrian how's Sydney?" I say waggling my eye brows as I am fully aware of what he was getting up to last night.

"Shut it shrimp!!! And she's good thanks" wagging his eye brows back at me. Adrian is never one to get embarrassed about the details, unlike my poor Eddie who would of had to stand guard outside while those two would of been getting it on! As if on cue I see Eddie turning red looking anywhere but at Adrian and me.

Eddie wanting to change the subject away from his charges sex life. "Did you notice something odd yesterday in the commune? It was like as soon as anyone saw you and I coming they stopped talking?" Eddie asked Adrian.

I listen intently as even though I now know that communes even though have blood whore dens are mostly Dhampir families trying to live out their lives in peace raising their young. Mostly populated by women as the men generally become guardians. Yet I've never been to one as most Moroi still hang onto the notion that the communes are filthy and only whores live there.

"Yeah it was odd. Even Sydney said something was a brewing. But no one is speaking to her. The dhamps I saw their auras were telling me secrets were being kept, also hope and amazement. But I couldn't tell you what it was about." Taking a sip of our drinks.

"Maybe the Queen is giving the communes extra funding this year that would amaze anyone!!" Adrian and Eddie both snort laugh into their coffee cups earning a few glares from people on near by tables. Eddie not paying them any mind and Adrian staring them down!

"I love my aunt but the day she hands out extra funds might be the day she manages to stun me to death!" We laugh as that.

Well that's the honest truth the royals are all about making themselves richer and safer while non royals try to live and work within the boundaries of warded communities like court then we are protected from strigoi by the magical wards and the guardians assigned to royal Moroi patrolling. While Dhampir communes are deemed safe as strigoi generally don't go there as Moroi visits are few and far between and even though the dhamps there are mainly un-promised or retired guardians they have all been taught to fight, there are easier meals to be had for strigoi.

"Oh well whatever is going on in the commune I'm sure we will hear about it sooner than later. We all know secrets can't be kept for long in this society. I just hope it's worth hearing about as it's been quiet and well really boring for the last couple of years!" Eddie states.

Yep the last big show down was Christians aunt Tasha deciding to stick her two fingers up at the council and take banishment rather then give up her human lover. If the rumours are true she has now married him and has a son. I say good on her. I mean it's been over two years almost three and I could understand the fear before but really she should of been allowed back in by now it's obvious that her human husband was not going to say anything. But really it's not the fear it's the snobs looking down on the fact that he is human. Hypocrites. Human are more technological advanced then us, everything that we use are human inventions. Plus we need their blood to survive. Also that it's Tasha Ozera and the fact that they already hated her and Chris from the day his parents decided to turn. Coz that's their fault.

"Yeah this place could use a shake up that's for sure." I state hoping something would pull us out of the mundane. If only Rose was here that girl always caused trouble! God I missed her, we all did.