Lissa

Adrian and I were spending more time together. I was teaching him my Spirit abilities while he was teaching me the theory of his. Being six months pregnant, pregnant at all really, we decided it would be best if I didn't use Spirit in case it had negative effects on the baby. It was weird not having Rose around. When I was younger and dreamed of being pregnant, Rose was always there with me. So was my mom. Now, I had no one around that knew what it was like. Sure, I had Rose on the other end of a phone call, but that was it. A phone call.

Christian had gone to his morning classes. It has been two weeks now and after a talk with me, Dimitri – and I think Rose chipped in too – his classes have been getting better and I was happy for him. I was working on emails on the couch, not wanting to move. Adrian had gone to Christian's class so I was alone. There was a knock on the front door.

I put the laptop down on the couch beside me and rolled to my feet and waddled towards the door. I was shocked when it opened and Janine was standing there. Her auburn hair tied into a short ponytail at the top of her head. She gave me an awkward smile before I invited her and asked her to sit on the couch. I brought out a jug and glasses. She jumped up and took them from me and I slowly sat into the chair.

"Is everything alright?" I asked her. She folded her hands in her lap and looked at me. I swallowed. I know she was Rose's mother and looking at her now, I could see the resemblance. Rose was intimidating, but I knew her, loved her and I knew she loved me and wouldn't hurt me, but she was still intimidating. Janine, was on a whole other level. If we hadn't spent so much time with each other over these last few years, I would have been sitting there, scared for my life. She sighed and looked at me.

"I know you're parent's can't be around for you." She started. I winced. It has been many years, but it still hurt. "They took Rose in, and I want to repay them. If you ever need anything, I was pregnant once too you know." She gave me a small smile and laugh. I looked at the women sitting in front of me.

The women sitting in front of me had Rose when she was twenty. Left Rose there alone when she was four. For years there was miss trust between the two, mainly Rose, but I couldn't deny that Janine was there whenever Rose really needed her. After we found out about Mason running towards a Strogoi stronghold and Rose going after him and the others to save them, Janine was the first one to demand a rescue mission. Although she neglected to mentioned the reason she demanded the mission was to save her daughter as she emphases on the Moroi – especially a Royal – it was the quickest way she could think off to allow the mission to be sanctioned. When they saw Eddie running with Mia and Christian and Mia said Rose stayed behind and was fighting Strogoi by herself, Janine ran. Ignored Dhampir protocol and ran towards her daughter. When she found out Mason died and how close and hurt Rose was because of his death, she was there for her.

Janine was always there when it counted.

"Thank you." I said, genuinely meaning it. Janine gave me a small smile.

"I know I was never the best mother to Rose. I am forever grateful to your parents for taking her in and looking after her when I couldn't - wouldn't, but I'm more indebted to you." I looked at her. "I heard about the accident – it seems bad thing's happens to Rose when she's in a car." I gave her a little laugh. It was true. "You saved her life." I looked down.

"I made her life worse." I replied watching my hands as they started to shake. "She has so much darkness now and it's because of me. She's haunted by ghosts whenever she leaves the wards-" I choked up.

"She's alive and I got a chance to have a relationship with my daughter and have a grandchild." Janine breathed out. "I don't know what I would have done if Rose died then."

"You say I saved Rose when really it was Rose who saved me. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be having this baby – Rose is an amazing person. I'm sorry your relationship was strained for so many years."

"It was my fault. So many years passed and then it was harder to bring myself to go see her. I had Alberta send me photos all the time, I got her to give me updates every day – when I found out she ran away, I didn't know what to do." Janine looked at me, her eyes red. "I tried to find you both. I couldn't even do that."

"Have you told Rose all this?" Janine shook her head. "Rose is very understanding and forgiving. I think you two need to sit down and talk things through – you've buried everything that happened between you and just ignored it. You should talk about it." Janine gave me a smile.

"You know, I came here to offer help and advice because this is your first child – it turns out you're going to do just fine yourself."