A.N: Hey guys!!

I know you are going to call me Evil again but I'm so not lol.

Thanks for the sweet reviews of the last chapter.

I hope you're going to like this one and please show me the love (or not) by reviewing.

Hugsies

Steffy =D

Chapter 22:

It was late afternoon when the Academy Jet landed in Hanover. The plane trip was a lot more enjoyable than I expected it to be. I know it seemed impossible to even think that but I was glad Stan came, as it prevented the 'battle of the egos'. We just had a couple of stares but for the rest, it went alright.

As we left the plane we could have looked as a very weird army group as we were all wearing sunglasses even if the weather was bad and the sun was nowhere to be found which made Lissa and Christian a lot more comfortable to visit the campus.

They sent a couple of mature students and when they saw our group walking toward them, their eyes widen into saucers, which made me grin to no ends.

I know guys…We've got the whole package I thought still smiling.

As they walked us around the campus explaining how it was safe how they could adapt for students with special needs (which led me to think they perfectly knew about moroi and that it was not the first moroi that was considering the College and it reassured me a lot).

As we were reaching the main part of campus there was a smell of fried food that was just overwhelming. I looked at the others who probably smelt it too but it didn't seem to bother them as much as it bothered me.

Maybe it was making me nauseous because of the baby.

I took a deep breath. "You know you guys go ahead," I said eyeing a public bathroom door not too far not even sure I'll make it before puking my guts. "I'll catch up with you."

"Rose are you ok?" Asked Chris with concern.

"Peachy!" I said pointing to the toilet. Keep it down Rose! I added to myself. "You go I'll catch up." I said already taking the direction of the toilet.

"We'll be at the neuroscience building," shouted one of the students after me.

I just give the thumb up as I wasn't sure I could open my mouth without emptying the full contents of my stomach right on the spot.

I just had the time to make it to the toilet and vomit.

"Damn!" I said walking to the sink to wash my mouth and freshen up. I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror.

It was weird that I already had morning sickness. I was only 6 weeks pregnant… I read on the Internet and it was a bit soon but well it was a dhampir baby and there were no books about dhampir babies!

I shook my head I could still ask my mom… Just the thought of it made me laugh.

When I walked outside of the bathroom I found Christian awaiting for me the back rested on the wall. I looked around. They left him to wait without a guardian? I needed to have a word with them.

"Are you okay?" He asked concerned walking from his spot.

"Yeah," I nodded, "but…but you didn't need to stay behind and without a guardian." I shook my head.

"I asked to stay alone," he said with a smile. "I know how Rose doesn't like entourage when she is not feeling at her best."

"You bet I don't. Thanks for staying though," I said, starting to walk.

"My pleasure," he said walking slightly behind me.

I was getting a bit more moody than usual too. Well, I was not the most balanced person in the world usually but it was getting worse. Could I get the pregnancy mood swings already? …Uh...

"You know it's very nice here," I said looking around "I'm pretty sure you smarties could enjoy being here don't you think?" I asked and turned around when I got a faint 'right'.

Christian had his face buried on a campus map he was holding and I was sure he didn't even listen to one word I was saying which actually angered me immensely.

I took the map from his hands ripped it to shreds and threw it in the nearby bin.

"Do you know how rude it is not to listen to people when they talk?" I asked crossing my arms on my chest.

"Well, it's not like it was interesting or anything," he said with a grin.

Of course this remark made him win a slap on the back of his head. I was starting to think that this boy liked to be beaten… Freaky masochist.

"You looked like a moron walking around with that map in your hands." I said seriously. "The campus is not that big and there are signs!!" I said pointing up to the directing arrows. "You're such a dork! Tourist!" I snorted taking his hand. "Come on, we'll be at the Neuroscience department in 5 minutes."

15 minutes later as we were exiting the History building I started to regret to have thrown away the damn map but I'd rather be burn alive (fire boy ahah) than admit it out loud.

I was looking around when Christian clacked his tongue in his mouth. I pursed my lips knowing he was about to open it.

"You know what looks more moronic than walking around a campus with a map huh?" He chuckled, "it's being lost on that campus!"

"Shut it Fire boy or so help me--" I started.

"Ehhh, whatever you say Rose... Oh here is a map." He said pointing to a wall.

I shrugged like I didn't care but I was grateful there was a map because even if I had trouble to admit it to myself, I was lost.

As Christian looked at the map I stood in front of him looking around.

I could see a guy eyeing me expectantly probably evaluating the merchandise. Oh please, don't come too close I thought as I was getting more and more annoyed.

He finally made his mind probably not even realizing that Christian was with me.

"Hey…" He said with a flirty smile.

"Beat it nerd!" I said frostily with my killer glare. He looked at me completely stun mouth wide open. "Come on. Shoo shoo!!" I said gesturing him away.

He shook his head and strode away.

"That was very smart Rose!" Said Christian, with annoyance in the voice. "He could have pointed us in the right direction."

"Fine," I said rolling my eyes. "Hey Nerd Boy!" I shouted in the guy direction "Dorky come back!"

The guy shook his head but continued to walk.

"See? …He didn't want to help," I said pointing as the guy disappeared.

"You know…we really need to work on your social skills!" Said Christian shaking his head.

"Look who's talking…" I said with a snort.

"Touché." He said with a wink. "If someone else comes, be nice ok? Since this map is crap!" He added taking his phone out of his jean pocket probably to locate the group.

"Okey-dokey!" I said like a stubborn child.

As soon as I spoke a guy got out of the building.

He looked at me and smiled.

"You seem lost. Can I help you?" He asked nicely.

I was about to answer when Christian (who put his hand on the talking part of the phone) talked.

"Well, yeah. She is lost but it has been years! Nobody can help her now!" He said as he burst in roar of laugher.

"Fuck Off!" I said to Christian. He was just heavenly lucky I didn't have anything to throw at him. I looked at the boy again. "It's not that we're lost. It's --"

"That we don't know where we're going and how to get there." Said Christian cutting me off.

I gave him my darkest glare. "Really douche?! I would cheerfully beat you to death! Wait till we're alone…" I added through my teeth. "We're going to the Neuroscience building." I said to the guy.

After his quick indications we made it in less than 5 minutes.

Just before we met them, I elbowed Christian.

"I didn't forget the smart shit you tried to pull there but I'll get my revenge soon enough." I said with a pretended threatening tone. "Sleep with an eye open Ozera…"

The rest of the visit was pretty uneventful and I was walking between Chris and Eddie. I felt tiny. It was good. I spaced most of the time but it was okay I liked that sometime.

Apparently they already organized for us to go and have dinner (well lunch for us really) to a small Italian restaurant called 'Bonaventura' not too far from the hotel we were resting at.

As we were in a public place, the guardians would be sitting at the table. I mean with 3 fully efficient guardians and 2 pretty good young graduates to protect 2 moroi including my fire boy, it would be a piece of cake.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant I immediately saw that it was a family business probably because the hostess and barman look so much alike that they were probably brother and sister.

They were beautiful that was for sure. Maybe 22, 23 with light brown hair and very beautiful emerald eyes that made me think of Adrian. Obsessed much? Probably!

The girl came to great us with a very warm smile. She didn't seem surprised to see the group and that was a first since every single person we met today looked at us like we had 2 heads or something. But she didn't and that was odd.

"Your table is ready," she said stepping in front of me and she was really tiny about 5'1 or so. Tiny but tough somehow.

She sat us at a round table in a very quiet area of the restaurant, giving us the menu and quickly went back to her hostess spot and reached for the phone.

I was sitting between Chris and Eddie across from Lissa and Christian that we securely sat against the wall.

I could see a light of expectation in Lissa's eyes and a conspiracy smile on Christian lips as he looked at her.

I quickly glanced at Dimitri who seemed clueless and Stan who looked as stiff and tight ass, as he always was.

I shrugged it off. Maybe I was really starting to get paranoid, I thought concentrating on the menu in front of me. Everything looked so good that I wanted to try it all.

I was completely lost in the menu when I heard a woman's voice.

"Vasilisa Dragomir, It's very nice to have you here." She said very nicely.

I frowned and looked up. It was a tiny woman probably the same size than the hostess in her early 50's and she was clearly the mother of the two youngsters. She had the same hair color and pretty similar facial features but her eyes were deep blue, sapphire.

She had an order pad in the hand when she turned her head to look at me her neck long hair moved slightly and my mouth popped open. I just had a quick glimpse at the promise mark she had on her neck. Of course they were Dhampirs! I don't even know how I didn't realize that earlier. That's why the girl seemed tough even if she was tiny.

I flashed her my brightest smile and I think I surprised every single person at the table but I was so happy to meet her as she was like me. She was a dhampir woman who decided to live in the Human world just like I intended to do. She raised her kids (I was pretty sure they were twins now) just how I intended to raise mine and they seemed just as happy as I expected to be.

"My name is Celia Johnson," she said raising her hand to shake mine. As she switched her pads I saw a wedding ring… Uh she was not as alone as I thought she was. "My husband will be back soon," she added with a warm smile. "He can't wait to meet you all," but strangely enough she had her eyes on me when she said that.

She took our order and strode back in the kitchen.

"She is a dhampir?!" Asked Eddie with wide eyes.

"Wow, you're so good captain obvious…I thought she was a baby seal." Said Christian with a snort.

"Oh yeah, cuz you're so smart yourself uh? Do you want me to talk about the little chikeny incident?" I said shooting him a glare.

"Oh yeah, wanna talk Rose?'Miss I'm---' " Started Christian

"Stop it you two!" Said Lissa in a motherly tone.

The 3 guardians (yep even Stan) had a smile playing on their lips I guess that Christian and I were pretty amusing for an audience.

"Yeah Eddie, she is a dhampir," said Lissa concentrating on him again. "She is owning this restaurant with her husband for the last 10 years I think," she said getting more and more excited as she talked as she was expecting something big to happen. "Her husband is an author. Andrei Johnson," she added.

I narrowed my eyes slightly. She knew a bit too much about those people to be a random visit that was sure. Dimitri gave me a quick look he was as questioning as I was.

I was about to question Lissa when our plates were served. We ate mostly in silence as I was starving and spacing most of the time imagining if I would be able to construct a good live and make my kid as happy as those seemed to be.

When we finished eating, the restaurant was completely empty as it was really late in the 'normal' world.

Celia came to sit with us and talked about the life in Hanover. She officially introduced us to the twins Jade and Marc. They were 21 and attending Stanford University but they were back for the summer. She also had an older daughter (Marla she was 27 and married. She just adopted a baby) and a younger son (Stephen, 17, he was playing in his rock band tonight).

She was very sweet, funny and charming and she managed to charm the whole table in a record time I guess she was so happy, content and accomplished that you were drawn to her immediately.

"Oh, here comes dad!" said Jade and I raised my head not expecting much.

"What the f--" I blurted out without even thinking.

"Let me introduce you to my husband Andrei," she said as the man walked to us with a wide smile…fangs showing.

I was startled because her husband was a moroi but it was not what shocked me the most. He was just like Adrian! I mean I was pretty sure that Adrian would be just like that in 30ish years! That man was an Ivashkov there was no need to question that.

An Ivashkov and a Dhampir…married? I thought so shocked I felt close to a stroke. I looked at Lissa and Christian totally dumbfounded but I could see from their smile that they were in the secret just as Chris.

After greeting us, he pulled a chair to sit beside me. A coincidence? I think not!

He explained us about his job as author, about how he met Celia. She was her guardian for a while and then they fell for each other and they were about to have their 29th anniversary next month.

Was Adrian in the plot? I asked myself but based on the way Andrei was staring at me, I bet he knew who I was just fine.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom but when I got out Andrei was waiting for me.

"He loves you much more than you know." He said to me very nicely.

I gave him a sad smile. "I love him so much, I can't even word it." I just said. There was no need to play games.

"Being disavowed is not the end of the world. It was actually the best thing that could have happened to me." He said looking deep into my eyes probably to show me that he meant every word. "I knew I loved Celia more than life and I've been happy for the last 30 years!" He added with a smile, "and I never ever regretted my choice not even a second. She gave me 4 beautiful children, comfort, love, trust…" He sighed. "There is nothing more in life you know. The money and name never made anyone happy… Look at my brother," he added sadly.

His brother was Adrian father but I didn't know the family so I just had to take his word for it.

"And Adrian… Adrian won't be happy if he is not with you Rose," he said seriously. "I looked into his eyes and I saw myself 30 years ago. You are more important to him than all the rest it's a simple choice for him you know." He added putting his hands on my shoulders.

"What if he realizes it was a mistake later huh? What if he ends up resenting me as being the reason of his sacrifice?" I asked feeling like a small child.

"That's why you have to keep faith in your love. Love each other completely and selflessly and how would we recognize true love if we didn't have to face a few bumps along the way?" He asked with a wink.

I nodded biting my bottom lip.

"Thank you." I simply said.

"You're welcome Rose," he said squeezing my shoulder gently. "I can see why he is so crazy about you, you are a girl worth fighting for."

I blushed slightly before adding. "He is pretty unique too."

"Yes…Yes he is." He then moved to walk me back to the table. "You two are a match made in Heaven, just like Celia and me," he added sitting beside his wife.

I sat and looked at them, their hands intertwined. They were looking at each other with so much love… It was like they were young lovers, not married for 30 years.

Could I really build something like that with Adrian? Maybe and maybe I would be ready to risk it, as he knew in what kind of 'trouble' he was getting in but the others? My family…Lissa, Christian and Eddie, they didn't ask for anything did they? I couldn't jeopardize their future but maybe if I thought hard enough I could find a solution. Love was worth every sacrifices right?

After a little while we walked back to the hotel it was so late that the streets were empty. It was very nice outside with the soft early summer breeze. I didn't want to get back in my room just now.

Lissa and Christian were sharing a room in between Chris & Eddies' room and Stan & Dimitri's room (with communicating doors not so fun…for a couple)

I was staying by myself in the room across the hall from Lissa and Christian.

"I want to take a walk," I said as we stopped in front of the hotel. The streets were completely deserted and we were not too far from the River separating Vermont from New Hampshire, I always loved to look at water.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Asked Eddie nicely before anybody else could offer to join. "I wouldn't mind a walk too."

I knew Eddie wouldn't bother me with questions and his company was always good. He was perfect to take a quiet walk with, that's the only person I would say yes to and he knew it.

I nodded. "Yeah, thank you. I surely wouldn't mind the company."

He smiled. We said goodnight to the others and started to walk calmly and quietly our arms intertwined.

We took the 20-minute walk to the river in silence we then sat on a bench and made small talk about how pretty the city was, how campus seemed great and silly things like that.

Eddie always seemed to know what I needed and light subjects was exactly what I needed.

We made it back to the hotel about 2 hours after we left.

"Thank you for the company" I said, as I was about to go into my room.

"You are welcome Rose I always like wandering around with you." He said hugging me going back to his room.

I sighed… Andrei and Celia shook me deep down. Our couple could work! They were the living proof.

As soon as I walked into the room, slamming the door behind me I froze. Someone was waiting, sitting on my bed.

"Hello Rose, You're finally back…"