Lissa

We were herded like sheep into the canteen. I helped hand out blankets to the kids, making sure Aly was by my side at all times. Christian got a call from Dimitri that really worried me but I didn't know how to feel. I get it, he's coming back to save his daughter, t keep her safe, I know it's what Rose would have wanted him to do as well, but was still, my best friend was out there, alone, sacred - she might not show t but she'll probably be scared - and she's still keeping that god damned mental block up. She let it slip for a brief moment during the crash Dimitri heard on the phone but she put it back up almost instantly. I thought it would be easier to get through to her if she was sleeping or knocked out, but they were still firmly in place.

Dimitri came in with Janine, Aly ran over to him and I followed behind her, making sure she only went to Dimitri. When he left, she came back over to me and gripped my hand. I smiled down at her and looked up at Christian. He sighed and wrapped his arms around my shoulders and kissed my forehead. I pulled away and looked up at him.

"We're going to die, aren't we?" He shook his head and pulled me back to him.

"No, we're safe. This is Rose's strategy, she did everything to protect you, always." I shook my head.

"She shouldn't have too. She's in trouble right now and there's nothing I can do about it-"

"Rose is fine. She'll be fine." He whispered. "She'll be here."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

It started a few hours later. The orders, the screams, the yells for help, the tension in the room as Guardians drew out their stakes, taking wide stances as they kept their eyes on the windows are doors. I was sitting on the floor with Aly, my arm wrapped around her tightly and she hugged my belly the best she could. I kept a hand on it, breathing through slight pains as I tried to keep my eye on Christian. He was the one to start off the Moroi defense, surround the outside with fire. I he was relieved a few moments later and went to the blood plie before he came over to sit with me. I leaned against him when the door to the canteen opened and three new Moroi were let in. Aly looked up at me and rested her head on my knee.

"I don't feel well." I stroked her hair. Of course, she wouldn't, her mother was missing and her father was outside in a battle that can be heard inside. I grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Christian sighed and shifted.

"Hi Mia." She came over and sat with us.

"Hey." She replied with a smile. "I'll take Aly over to get you guys some water, Christian, you must be exhausted." She stuck out her hand for Aly who used her free hand to grab my arm.

"No, it's fine. She's comfortable here." I replied, starting to stoke her hair.

"Are you sure? You look a little tired, maybe you could use a break."

"I'm fine." I snapped at her. I didn't know where it came from, I was just so dead set on doing this one thing for Rose - she told Dimitri that only I was to go near Aly, to touch her. I was not going to let my best friend down even if it meant upsetting a new(ish) friend. Mia moved away with a nod and went somewhere else in the room.

"Are you okay?" I looked over at him and nodded. "I'm fine." She rubbed my back, not really believing me.

"I really don't feel well." Christian rolled to his feet and went to find Dr. Olendzki as I felt Aly's forehead and neck like i saw Rose do many times. Aly closed her eyes and moved towards me just as Dr. Olendzki came over. She checked Aly over, but said there was nothing she could do test wise because she wasn't in the infirmary. Instead, she went away and came back with a cool damp cloth and placed it on Aly's neck.

"This is all I can do for now." I nodded and winced through another pain. "How long have you been having that pain?" She asked me. I looked over at Christian and then back at the doctor.

"It's nothing, it comes and goes, it's fine."

"Your Majesty, you're in labor." Christian cleared his thought as Mia walked over to us again.

"Not now Mia!" I snapped just as the doors to the canteen opened quickly and Guardian's poured in.

"There's too many. We're going to have to defend from the inside." Alberta ordered the doors closed and blocked again. "Janine, Dimitri-"

"We know." They came over to us then, looking exhausted.

"What's going on out there?" Dimitri looked away.

"There's a lot of them. We can't defend if were scattered." Dimitri replied, looking down at Aly.

"I don't feel well Daddy."

"It's alright baby, it's only because there's bad people outside. You'll be okay." I looked over at Dimitri. Of course! How could I be so stupid? Rose was able to sense when Strogoi were around, so was Aly. I was ignoring contractions as they started to grow closer and closer together.

"Dimitri - I think there's-" 'Great, I got fat.' Rose?

Something fell from the roof and there was loud screaming. Dimitri and Janine turned and moved towards the center of the room. I almost collapsed in relief when I heard Rose's voice. Mia came over again and this time she grabbed Aly's hand.

"I'll take her somewhere safe." I moved quickly, taking Aly's hand away from Mia. Christian stood up and moved Mia way.

"Why do you want Aly so bad?"

"Come on Ray, you should have just left my five-year-old alone."