A.N: Hey guys!

See even if I were SUPER busy at work I still managed to write this chapter. I really hope you you are going to enjoy it and don't forget to review I love reading you.

Take care

Steffy

Chapter 14:

I looked at her not really knowing what I could answer. What did I know? Not much…virtually nothing! It was mainly lucky guesses and good hunches. I was pretending a lot more than I knew.

"I know enough to shake things up and before you go denying everything…I've got proof." Liar, liar pants on fire. I added to myself.

Emily threw a quick worried glanced toward the corridor. "Let's not talk here, not now." She whispered almost pleading.

I didn't want her to think I was a monster trying to ruin her life either. I was doing what was needed to be done in order to set things right, to create an even Council, to make things better for all of us.

"Fine…where?" I asked hoping she wouldn't try to double cross me.

"I'll meet you at your hotel later and I'll explain things to you... I promise." She was twisting her hands together in clear discomfort and I honestly felt sorry for her. I understood why Adrian had been so reluctant to let me go through with all that. I was about to change the life of these two people, probably not for the better as far as they were concerned and I was doing that to a kid who never asked anything. I was not sure that my excuse of 'it's for the greater good' would keep my conscience from coming back to kick me hard.

"I'm staying at the MGM Detroit it's -"

"I know where it is." She replied raising her hand to stop me. "Everybody in Detroit knows where it is."

"I'll give you my room number and-"

"Are you staying alone?" She asked out of the blue.

I couldn't help but blush at that even if there was no reason for me to. Emily was not my mother and Adrian and I were two consenting adults. Nothing to be ashamed of and yet, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. When we reached the hotel the day before, Adrian asked me were by bags should be taken and I knew he expected a lot from this answer so I told him that his room was just fine. The bright smile that spread on his face made it all worth it. We didn't even have sex that night, I simply slept in his arms and he had told me it was all he needed, me beside him.

"I…why?" I asked avoiding a direct answer.

"I don't want to talk in front of him, you only." She said crossing her arms on her chest.

"You can trust him Emily, I trust him with my life, he is-"

"Those Royals… They can only be trusted to a point believe me" she said and I could hear the bitterness in her voice. "They think they want the responsibilities, but give some to them and they'll dump you. It's you only or nothing, take it or leave it."

I stayed silent for a second but I knew I had to agree and fast. Adrian was maybe a miracle worker but there was only so much he could discuss with Jill. "Fine only you and me." I took a paper towel and scribbled my cell number on it. "Give me a call when you make it to the hotel, I'll meet you in the lobby and we'll go somewhere."

She nodded satisfied.

"But for the record, I think you are wrong. Adrian is the best person out there. He is a good man and a good boyfriend and-"

She gave me a humorless laugh. "Yes, I'm pretty sure he thinks so too but put him face to face with his responsibilities…believe me he will run just like they all will do." She shook her head with weariness. He is probably even lying to himself." She locked eyes with me. "Tell him that you are pregnant…you'll see him get detached faster that you can expect."

"I know Adr-" I was cut off by Adrian very loud laugh, a clear warning that they were coming back.

"So?" I asked as Adrian entered the kitchen with Jill right behind him.

"It was very instructive…" He turned to Emily. "Jill knows so much about astronomy, it's impressive."

"I know, my baby is smart" said Emily with fondness and an edge of sadness that I probably caused.

"Mom!" Said Jill blushing with embarrassed.

"Well," I said standing up." It was a very charming evening, thanks again for the invitation. I shall see you again very soon" I added locking eyes with Emily.

"Of course" said Emily with a polite smile,

"Let me just phone Liam," said Adrian after throwing me a curious glance.

I gave Jill a hug.

"Thanks for coming Rose, it was fun seeing you again."

"It was great seeing you too. Take care okay?" I said not really knowing what would happen from now on, she might even end up hating me.

Adrian hugged Jill too and said a polite goodbye to Emily.

"Come on Rose spill it!" He asked as soon as we sat in the car that Liam was driving.

"She knows that I know. She is coming to meet me at the hotel a bit later tonight to talk about it."

"Where are we going to meet her? Our room?" He asked eagerly, so eagerly that I felt bad to tell him he was not invited.

"She- She doesn't want to talk to you she…doesn't trust Royals." I took his hand and squeezed it. "I tried to make her understand, but she wouldn't budge."

Adrian looked disappointed but he nodded. "I understand, we can't say we, Royals, treated her well."

I nodded too, surprised by his calm and understanding. We made the rest of the trip in silence and I couldn't help but replay her words about Royals and responsibilities. Was Adrian fooling himself too, thinking he wanted it all with me? Would he run away like Eric did or like every other Royals ever did? Maybe putting him face to face with reality would save us both heartaches.

We were in the hotel lobby when I blurted out. "What would you say if I told you I wanted a baby?"

Liam almost choked on his saliva as Adrian froze on the spot.

"W-what?" He asked his face would have been comical if the instant was not so critical.

"I said, what if I told you I wanted a baby? What would you say?"

"You know what? That's my queue." Said Liam backtracking, keeping his eyes on us like we were some feral animals. "That's new, Abe is going to kill them" I heard him mumble before he turned around and left the building.

"Do you want a baby?" Adrian asked, taking a step toward me.

"That's not what I said." I replied taking a step back.

Adrian sighed. "Let's talk about that upstairs please" he said starting to walk toward the elevators, turning around a couple of time to make sure I was following.

The elevator ride was made in an awkward silence and Adrian only spoke when we were in the room.

"Did you smoke or drink anything?" he asked taking his jacket off and throwing it negligently on the back of a chair.

"You know I'm pretty sane" I locked my eyes with him. "What if I told you I-"

"Wanted a baby. Yes, I heard you the two times you told me that. It's just…not you Rose, where did that come from?"

"Is that why you are with me? Because you know subconsciously that I wouldn't want the babies and marriage so you don't need to take the responsibilities?" I couldn't believe that Emily had been right.

"You- You are not seriously thinking that are you?" He asked and I could see his eyes turning dark green but it was with anger not lust this time.

I shrugged. "It seems like that to me," I said looking away.

He was in front of me in two quick strides and gripped my upper arms so strongly it was actually painful. "Look at me Rose" he growled. When I refused to cooperate he shook me a little "Rose, look at me!"

I finally turned, meeting his eyes, pretending not to care.

"I don't know what that woman told you about me…us but she is wrong. You want babies? Let's make babies! How many do you want? 1? 3? 10? I want a house full of dhampir babies, our dhampir babies!" He let go, brusquely looking at me with both disbelief and pain. "I never told you all that because I knew it would scare you, but of all the things…I never thought you would doubt my commitment to you…to us."

Seeing the pain I was causing him yet again made me hate myself a bit more. I didn't want the babies and the marriage why did I ever let those woman words touch me.

"Of all the things that are certain in your mind, of all the things I thought you knew were permanent, I thought you knew that my love and commitment and love for you could never EVER change or fade. I want you as my wife as the mother of my children."

"Adrian please not now I-"

"You started it Rose! Now you'll hear it all." He had a humorless laugh. "All the things I was way too scared to ever say to you because I knew it would make you run away. I'm waiting for you to show one sign of weakness, one sign of indecision so I can make you my wife, I know I'm your number two, your second choice but as long as you are with me it's alright."

I could see his eyes were glistening with tears. I wanted to rewind everything, I regretted opening my mouth, I regretted doubting him.

"I said it's alright that you want to remain like that, but it's a lie. I'm waiting…hoping you'll realize I'm the one for you, hoping you will start to imagine our children the way I do. Our little girl with your beautiful black hair, full lips and button nose with her daddy's big green eyes." He smiled in a way that I knew it meant he was picturing her right now. "Or our little boy…hot tempered just like his mother and cheeky just like his father. I can imagine our house...our home, the one I've been drawing for months" he admitted. "So please Rose, don't tell me I don't want the commitment as you are the one who keeps hurting me by pushing me away." He threw his hands up in exasperation before reaching for his jacket.

"Where are you going? Adrian?"

He was walking away without another word.

"Adrian don't walk away! Not like that!" I said not able to keep my voice from breaking.

"I need a drink…alone" he said already half way through the door. "And you can let your new friend Emily up tonight, I won't interrupt you. This is your room now Rose" he said before slamming the door shut letting me frozen with pain and guilt.

I finally moved and ran in the corridor, but Adrian had already left. I sighed closing my eyes. Why did I keep hurting the people I loved? Why did I keep hurting myself?

I was about to go look for Adrian when my phone started vibrating. It was Emily telling me she would be there in less than ten minutes. I gave her my room number and told her to come meet me there because Adrian wouldn't come and bother her. It was not like I knew where he was anyways.

I was also mad at Emily now, she managed to put the doubt in my head in less than five minutes.

When Emily came up, my anger didn't subside and I was also worrying about Adrian, wondering where he had vanished to. An upset Adrian without any supervision was making me sick with worry.

"Are you alright?" She asked as I gestured her toward the luxury sofa.

"I'm not relevant here" I said a bit colder than intended.

She frowned and looked down and she apparently misunderstood my coldness for judgment as she started to justify herself.

"I know what you think but…it's not like that."

I sighed. "Really it doesn't matter I-"

"When I met him, I didn't know who he was" she continued like I didn't interrupt her. "I knew he was wealthy but I didn't know he was royal and for the life of me I didn't know he was married." She shook her head apparently lost in her thought. "If I had known…things would have been different but at the same time I can't regret it." She had a small smile. "He gave me Jill, and she is the best thing that could ever happen to me."

I simply looked at her silently.

"I grew attached, I was even in love with this man and when I told him about my pregnancy he finally admitted he was married, with two children" she shook her head. "I have been stupid! I should have known. It would have been easy to find out… Maybe I just didn't want to know who he was, maybe I just liked it that way." She snorted. "It was the same for him apparently. He got tangled in this mess…" She sighed, "I knew he was giving me that money to ease his guilt, but I never spent the money." She shook her head vigorously. "No, not a cent. The money is in an account for Jill…she is the one who's been wronged."

I knew only too well how it was easy to get into a deep mess with no good way out.

"You can't reveal that Rose please. You know how they will treat Jill? How they will treat me? I- Please."

"You know that if I found you other will find you too, soon. And you can believe me, some people would be ready to anything for Jill not to exist."

"What do you mean?" she asked getting even paler than her normal Moroi complexion.

"I mean that some people want the Dragomir sibling dead," I replied not really looking to scare her. I was just stating the truth. "But- But I... We can keep her safe."

Emily was staring at me still in shock and I felt bad. I was more or less telling her that the life of the person she loved the most on this planet was in danger.

"Just come with Jill for a simple visit. It's not like she never came before. Meet Lissa, Christian… You'll see things won't be so bad."

"What if I still don't want my daughter to be exposed to that?"

I looked at her silently. "Then I think it will be only fair for Jill and Lissa to take the decision. Jill is a smart kid, it's her decision to make but you get to see first."

Emily sighed closing her eyes with exhaustion.

"Do we have a deal?" I asked.

"Do I have a choice?" She asked meeting my eyes.

"Not really, but believe me it's for the best."

"Time will tell" she replied standing up. "When?"

"As soon as possible…" I looked at Adrian's bag on the floor and knew it was time to go home. "Tomorrow?"

She looked away thoughtful. "I'll find a way. What time?"

"I'll give you a call in the morning," I replied following her to the door.

"I hope it's not the biggest mistake of our lives."

I stayed silent, not really knowing if it was a mistake or not.

As soon as she left, I started to look around for Adrian and called him many times. He never ignored my calls before and I was getting more and more anxious running around like a headless chicken.

I went back in the room, still no sign of him. I was about to call Liam for help when my phone rang.

"Adrian?" I asked in a rush. "Adrian please talk to me" I added when he didn't speak. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not Adrian," said a deep voice slightly accented that I, by now knew by heart.

"Dimitri…" I whispered in the phone as it was the last person on earth I expected to talk to.