Hey everyone, I will post this on top of all my chapter's for all the reader's that read this story when it first cam out but I have updated ALL chapter to this story and changed the plot line a little bit, so make sure you reread the first chapters if you are rereading or continuing to read this.

Thanks,

M

Chapter 3

ONE WEEK LATER

It was finally time for my trail. To say I was nervous was an understatement.
For the past four days I have gotten non-stop questions about why I am taking my trails and getting my promise mark so early. I just wave them off calmly saying that it's none of their business. I talked with Alberta not long after, and she has agreed that once I'm graduated, I'm going to take over Dimitri's shift's and I'll be Lissa's guardian once she graduates.

I have spent the past week training as much as I can and avoiding the topic of Dimitri with everyone. I also have not told Lissa and Christian about what happened between me and Dimitri. I haven't heard anything from Dimitri since he left. Christian also has not heard from his aunt other then apparently, they went to Russia to visit Dimitri's family and for some reason his grandmother does not like her anymore. I laughed a little when I heard that.

Over the past week Adrian has basically been stuck to my side worrying over everything I do. He even gone as far as to try and "fix" my diet. That didn't end well when he tried to take away my chocolate donuts. I've also spent almost every night in his suite in guest housing. We've watched almost every movie he has, as well as some on a streaming service called Netflix. On top of watching movies and talking, Adrian has taken pretending to be the baby's father to a new level by buying an apartment for me at court and is now filling it with all the baby stuff I need except for the little stuff like clothes and blankets knowing that Lissa would kill him if he did it all.

I laughed at him when he first started but after a day or so it felt kind of nice. Having someone I could talk to about everything and not hiding anything. He told me he's surprised Lissa hasn't figured it out yet by looking at my aura for practice. We both figured it was because she just figured she wasn't that good yet.

I did have to tell Alberta that I was expecting, when she took over training with me like Dimitri had been doing. She had asked me one day, why all my defense moves were focused on my abdomen. She was not happy when I told her. She eventually came around to it and said she would work out a safe schedule for me for after I finished my trails since by the time, I would need to take leave wouldn't be till after everyone else graduated. I thanked her and gave her a hug. When she had asked me who the father was I told her I couldn't say yet cause I hadn't told him yet. She then asked me who knew, and I told her only her and Adrian, which surprised her. I explained to her all that he has done for me and she admitted she had a new fondness for him for what he's done.

Eventually it came time for my trail.

I'm standing in a tent that Alberta told me to wait in. I could hear a large crowd waiting for it to start. Apparently Kirova decided it was going to be a big event instead of small. I had started to panic when I found out, eventually getting over it but now standing here as it was just about to start it started to come back. What if I mess up and fail? What if all of this ended up happening for nothing? No stop thinking that Rose. I closed my eyes and take a deep breath. Suddenly, I got pulled into Lissa's head.

She was mad at something. As I looked around, I saw why. Tasha and Dimitri were here. Lissa, Christian and Adrian were mad at them. Adrian at Dimitri for what he's done to me. Lissa and Christian were mad cause they hadn't said anything to them since leaving the school. Even though she was mad, Lissa put a smile on as if everything were fine as well as Christian. Adrian on the other hand didn't even try to hide that he was mad at Dimitri and sat there glaring at him.

"Christian, Lissa I so happy to see you guys again. Sorry for not calling or anything, we were…busy." Tasha said with a slight blush.

"Your Nephew does not need to know about your activities with Belikov in the bedroom." Christian said laughing uncomfortably.

Christian and his aunt went and sat down and started talking. Lissa sat down beside Christian while Adrian and Dimitri sat on her other side. Being where she was she couldn't help but over hear Adrian and Dimitri as they were talking.

"I hope your happy now Belikov." Adrian said somewhat quietly with Venom in his voice.

"Is there a reason for me to be happy other then Rose graduating?" He asked calmly.

"She's doing this for you..." He said gesturing around them. " to prove she's not some dumb child, let alone one you can have your way with then leave three weeks later like nothing happens. So, you better be happy. Cause it's your fault... That she is going to be out there as a full guardian now. And don't think it won't be your fault if in the next month or two when she's out guarding Lissa when she goes shopping for grad if she doesn't come back alive. It'll be all your fault". He said getting angrier and angrier with every word.

"Adrian! None of this is Dimitri's Fault Rose choose this..." Lissa said calmly defending Dimitri.

" No I'm right... It's his fault that Rose feels like nobody respects her or thinks of her as nothing but a child. I mean he did use her, lie to her, and leave her pregnant!" Adrian said enough now that Christian and Tasha could hear.

"I've been the one picking up the slack since he left. I have been sitting and listening to her talk about how scared she is to be a mother. Not either of you. So, if anyone knows what's going it's me."

Everyone and I were shocked. Adrian looked calm but mad at the same time. I can't believe Adrian said that knowing what I wanted. Everyone else was shocked about he said in general. Lissa not believing I would hold something that important from her decided to use spirit to check his aura. Sure enough it was black. Lissa then decided everything he was saying was just the darkness talking and that after hearing me talk for the past week to him he was just saying whatever to get to Dimitri.

"That's impossible Adrian, Rose hasn't even had sex yet, first off. Second none of this is true it's just the darkness, he's just been using a lot of spirit lately and hasn't been drinking for some reason." Lissa explained. "Adrian, why don't you got and get a drink really quick and come back or go and find another way to burn some darkness off."

Adrian exhaled angrily but walked away. Lissa looked at Dimitri who hadn't said anything the whole time.

"Are you okay Dimitri. Don't listen to what he said it was just darkness talking." Lissa said soothingly.

Dimitri nodded and started at the ground floor of the stadium thinking. After a few more minutes to hear what the others would say, I pulled out of Lissa's head and into my own.

"So, you saw everything huh?" Adrian said from a chair across from me.

"What the hell Adrian! I know you with darkness and that was not darkness. Why did you try that? I told you I wanted him to come back on his own, because he loved me. Not out of guilt."

"I know Rose, just after I heard what Tasha had said I could stand the thought that he's been getting it on with her and trying for a family with her, when you've been here carrying his baby this whole time and him not even knowing. It's not fair to you or the baby." He said defeatedly.

"I know what the situation is Adrian, but it's not fair to him if he only comes back because I'm not happy. For all we know he's happy with her and wants a family with her and not me. I don't want to trap him with me because he feels like he has to be."

"So, you're just never going to tell him he has a kid with you then?"

"No, I will tell him eventually. Just not before he's chosen me or chosen I was just a urge that needed to be filled, or if what he felt for me was even real. Besides I don't need him when I've got you right?" I asked putting my hand on his cheek. "You have been amazing to me this past week, and I've sort of decided it wouldn't be all that bad to have people think you're the babies father." I said laughing.

He put his hand on mine and smiled. Then he started leaning down and placed his forehead on mine.

"You're the one that is amazing Rose, not me." He said before he kissed me.

The kiss felt nice but nothing like with Dimitri. It felt warm and safe, like when your parents give you a hug and tell you everything is going to be alright. But I could tell if thinks turned for the worse and Dimitri really didn't want me I could learn to love Adrian in that way. Maybe not nearly as passionately or as explosively but I definitely wouldn't be unhappy if I spent the rest of my life with him instead of Dimitri.

"Roza…"

I pulled away from Adrian and looked over towards the entrance of the tent. Standing there was Dimitri with a sad shocked faced. He clear had seen the kiss but I didn't know how much he had heard of our conversation.

"Guardian Belikov…" I saw him flinch slightly. "how long have you been standing there?"

It took a second, but Dimitri soon put his usual guardian mask on. "Not long, I just came to say good luck and saw I was interrupting a moment between you to, my apologies."

"No need and thank you." I said turning to face him as Adrian put his arm around me so his hand was placed on my hip.

"Lord Ivashkov, May I have a moment with miss Hathaway?"

"Certainly." Adrian leaned down and gave me another quick kiss on the top of my head.

I stifled a laugh as Adrian left, purposely bumping into Dimitri's shoulder trying to make him stumble back as he passed. Dimitri stood still and waited for Adrian to be completely out of sight before looking back at me.

"So, you and Ivashkov huh?"

I couldn't hold back my laughter. "You sound like the best friend in every romantic comedy that's in love with the main girl."

We stood silent for a while. When the silence became to much o moved towards my gear, they gave me to wear during my exam. The whole time still not saying anything, I could Dimitri's eyes following my movement. I could feel my body heating up with his gaze on me, my heart started to pound in my chest, waiting for whatever he was going to say next. Subconsciously hoping that he was going to say something a long the lines of "I was stupid and should never have left." But what I got was…

"Well, am I right?" He asked after my laughing calmed down.

My heart sank a little. "Literally what you saw is all that has happened even related to the idea of him and I together. Besides why do you care. You left."

"I…I only did what was best, not what I wanted." He slightly angry.

"Right, so it was for the best that you slept with Tasha while you were gone?" Dimitri face softened a little when I said that. "Ya, I heard the whole conversation, but to fully answer your question. No, we aren't together yet, or ever. It all depends on what ever happens."

"I see." He moved closer to me.

He was silent for another few minutes, probably thinking about what he wanted to say.

"Roza can I say what I want to?"

"Sure, but I think my trail is going to start soon. So, you're going to have to make it fast." I said putting the last of my gear on.

"I really didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay until after your graduation. Then we could have been together. That is still all I want, is to be with you…"

"If that was true then why did you leave?" I interrupted.

"I…I can't tell you." He said as he moved forward and grabbed my hands. "But I am not lying, I love you Roza. More then I thought I could love someone."

"You chose to leave Dimitri. You don't choose to leave the person you claim to love. I don't know much about it, but I know that much."

"Roza, please…"

"No, if you meant what you said that night in the cabin and what you're saying now, then choose me. Stay here at the academy."

"I can't Roza. I wish I could but … me being with Tasha is for the best. Please understand."

"No, I don't understand Dimitri, and I probably won't unless you tell me why you did leave."

"Roza, please…"

"No, no more of this if you're not taking the chance right now to choose me over Tasha then that's it, everything we had will be gone. This is your only chance Dimitri." I said pulling my hands from him.

Before I could turn away from him, he grabbed me around the hips and pulled me to him and kissed me. It was in that kiss that I felt how much he meant everything he said about wanting me, how much he loved me. I was also reminded of the differences between Adrian's kiss and Dimitri's.

With Adrian I felt safe and loved. With Dimitri I felt safe and loved, but I also felt so much more. I felt like my whole body came to life. Like my entire world was complete. And after all of that started to fade away it was replaced with the passion and lust I felt for Dimitri. How much I wanted him to touch me everywhere and never stop.

Before I got to lost in the kiss and his touch, I pushed him away. He stood in front of me slightly stun.

"After my trail what are you going to do? Stay here or leave again with Tasha." I asked fighting back tears.

"I will be leaving with Tasha again, Rose." He said his shoulders sagging as he let out the breath he had been holding.

"That's what I thought. You should get back to your charge Guardian Belikov. I wish you well in your attempt for happiness and family. Now please leave."

"Roza… please at the least just think of what Tasha said to you when I left last time. Really think about it." He said as he turned to leave.

I sat there for a few minutes just thinking. What did he mean? I couldn't sit for long as I heard Alberta's voice over a speaker.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The guardians are ready and it's now time for us to take a seat as we bring out Rose Hathaway for her trails." Alberta said cheerfully. " Come out Rose!" The crowd erupted in cheers as I walked out.

I looked around. It was basically a big Colosseum, but that's not what scared me. The entire place was filled with both Moroi and Dhampir's.

" Now since Rose has already killed two strigoi, she will put to the test by having to fight off as many guardians as she can after a certain amount if she defeats them she will pass if not she fails and will have to go back into school". The crowd cheered as Alberta finished.

I looked up to Lissa, Christian, and Adrian. I took a deep Breath and looked right at Adrian. I smiled as he smiled at me. Then I looked at Lissa. She looked a little worried because of what the trail was but smiled none the less. Christian gave me a thumbs up then yelled as loud as he could.

"You got this Rose! Kick some ass!" I laughed slightly and smiled, moving to the middle of the arena.

Alberta's voice rang through the building. " Let's begin!"

As soon as Alberta finished speaking, about fifteen guardians came out and at me from every direction. It all happened in a haze, and before I knew it all the guardians were on the ground in pain groaning. Two guardians came out with a gurney for the seriously injured. About half of them were able to walk off.

"Impressive..." Alberta said again over the P.A. " Rose Hathaway, you have just beaten fifteen fully trained guardians, but as we all know someone you know could be turned in to a strigoi and you might be forced to fight them."

When she finished talking my mother and Dimitri walked out of a door together. Dimitri stayed at the side and my mother came at me full force. She went to take out my legs out from under me and I jumped over in time. We started to circle each other.

" Don't think I'm going to go easy on you because you are my daughter". She said. " I want you to be the best you can be".

" I wouldn't dream about it. Just don't go for my stomach or abdomen please, that's my weak spot".

I had been successful in keeping everyone away from hitting my stomach so far, but Dimitri knew I was baiting her to go for my stomach and if I didn't stop her then it would hurt the baby.

As planned, she went for my stomach when I gave her an opening. She tried to kick my stomach, but I caught her leg and made her loose balance. She fell but got right back up. The rest of the fight went in a haze, until finally I was able to get her on the ground and 'staked' her. I helped her up and gave her a hug as she told me good luck. I nodded and faced Dimitri.

Dimitri came running at me with a determined look. The fight went in much of a haze, but one thing I took note of was Dimitri constantly going for my stomach. Apparently, my baiting plan had worked on him as well though he should have seen through it. I was doing a good job at blocking so far. I heard people talking in the stands.

"They are so fast! How do they move that fast?" Someone yelled to the right of me.

"They haven't even landed a hit on the other!" Another yelled to my left.

Our fight continued, all the while Dimitri got madder and madder. To be honest I was getting a little frustrated that I hadn't landed any hits yet, I'm sure the same went for him. I didn't think much of it till Dimitri landed a hard blow to my stomach area. I doubled over in pain. "Rose!" Lissa yelled in my head. After that punch, I went at Dimitri with all I had left.

"You will not hurt my baby, you bastard". I said under my breath to low for him to hear over the rest of the noise.

The fight continued until finally I had an opening and brought him to the ground and 'staked' him. There was a moment of silence while me and Dimitri caught our breaths. I had just about caught mine when Dimitri shoved me off him. I was shocked at first but then got mad, but my anger soon faded into excitement as Alberta announced that I had passed my trials with flying colours.