A dear friend of mine passed away yesterday…He was one of the sweetest dearest mean who was strong in his faith in God. Howard will make you laugh on the worst day of your life and make you see the love and good in life. Howie this chapter is for you my man. Thank you for always believing in me and encouraging to continue to write no matter what.

As always, I don't own anything. Just my original characters that are added to the mix.

Adrian knew that Rose was up to things but waited around. He didn't want to bother her but the exchange between her and Ivan was obvious. He watched them both from the shadows and could see something different. A normal strigoi's aura is like a frozen mist around them. However, with Ivan when he was near Rose it looked like it was thawing out. As though he was turning back to Moroi without being staked by a spirit infused stake. The aura's did the same as hers with Dimitri's only this was new. Although hers at one time would shine bright as the sun with his, it was a hotter shine with Ivan. What or how that was possible Adrian couldn't figure out.

He went back to his room when Ivan left to lay back down with Sydney. He was waiting for her to wake up. She hadn't been feeling well the for the last couple of days. As tired as she had become she started taking naps in between researching things for the upcoming war. He planned on surprising her with a romantic bedroom dinner. Christian decided to make Eggplant parmigiana and Chicken parmigiana as well for everyone. As a favor to Adrian he was going to plate theirs and let Adrian take them to the room. Dinner was about done when Adrian went to retrieve the plates after he had set the table in the room up. "Hey man your plates are over there on the cart. I covered them up and made extra cheesy garlic bread for your lady." Christian called over his shoulder as he was removing the food from the kitchen.

"Thanks Christian, this means a lot. She has been so busy that I want to treat her tonight."

"Well the best of enjoyment for you both. You have a bit of both parmigiana, salad, and the bread. I also made Tiramisu for Desert. I found that someone has stocked the wine cellar with some bottles of sparkling juice along with regular wine. How weird is that?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, so I grabbed a couple bottles and brought them up along with some regular Merlots. There is a Raspberry and a Grape. They have Labels marked from Stone Hill Winery and St. James winery out of the states. Who knew Missouri had winery's?" Christian scoffed.

"Huh? Well the Raspberry sounds tasty. And I know that Sydney loves Raspberries, I am going to grab it and place it in the ice bucket. Thanks again Christian for the help."

"Anytime man, just do me a favor?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Would you be brave enough to ask Rose to come down and eat?"

"I already asked her and she doesn't want to be disturbed right now. Between Ivan and Dimitri hounding her she just wants to be left alone."

"Yeah I can see why. What the fuck is going on with those asses. Can't they take a hint and let her breathe?"

"Well I think if they would back off Rose would loosen up a bit. Have you noticed anything different about her?"

Christian thinks for a moment after he returned from setting the salads on the table and looked at Adrian with duh look. "The only time I have seen her laugh or crack a small hint of a smirk or smile is when she is with any of the children. And even that seems forced like she is trying her best to hold herself together."

"Yep. And the more them two fight over her or when Tasha was being a bitch to her she gets closer to the edge of a cliff. She goes out on dangerous missions or under…"

"Under what Adrian?"

"Shit Christian don't remember any of that last remark."

Christian started to get a glazed over look to his face for a moment then it was gone. "Yeah I agree with you but now that she helped Tasha get custody of Damien I am hoping they can get along better."

"Right I understand man, well I am going to wake Sydney up and surprise her." Adrian quickly wheeled the cart away from the kitchen. Cursing himself from almost letting it slip that Rose was not here nor was Ivan. The last thing anyone needed was another pissing match between the nimrods. As he entered the room Sydney was out like a light when she rolled on her back Adrian gasped. Not only was her belly starting to form a small hint of a baby bump but she had a small ring of another aura inside hers. He was so shocked that he was gob smacked staring at her. Happiness swelled his chest yet he wanted her to tell him. Thankfully she hadn't said anything yet. Inside his jean pocket he had the engagement ring. It was a simple princess cut solitaire. However, it had a bit of an Irish appearance to it, on the band of Gold was lines of Rose gold to create the infinity style border before it held the diamond. He didn't care if she was Irish or not. He wanted her to see and remember he was going to love her for infinity. He was pleased that tonight when he purposed she will see that it won't have anything to do about the baby.

He sat down and placed a gentle soft kiss to her lips. She softly moaned at the foreign touch in her sleep. He placed his hand on the side of her face before showering her face and neck with kisses. She smiled and mumble she wanted more sleep with Eduardo. "Hey hey hey. Who is this Eduardo guy?" he chuckled.

"The cabana boy in the hot pink speedo cleaning out our pool we will never have in Beverly hills." She grinned as she opened her eyes. "Don't worry he is gay."

Adrian snickered as he sat beside her stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Sage baby time to eat."

Sydney slowly sat up and smelled the aroma's from Christian's cooking as she stretched. She gasped when she saw the candles on the table and the cart of food. Adrian reached into his pocket at that time, when he almost had the ring out, Sydney pushed him off the bed. She made a bee line for the bathroom and threw up everything on her stomach. Adrian was trying not to laugh as he picked himself off the floor. Sydney came out crying her eyes out. "Adrian, (she hiccupped) I'm…" before she continued she stopped dead in her tracks. Adrian was down on bended knee in front of her.

"Sydney, I am in love with all my heart and soul. I don't care what tomorrow brings or what the world thinks of us. I don't want to spend any day or night without you by my side. I don't deserve you and you deserve a far better man than me. I want to make you the happiest woman in the world. Will you do me that honor of becoming my wife?"

"I'm a…I'm pregnant"

"I will love our baby no matter what."

"You still want to marry me?"

"Yes, a thousand times yes."

"Yes! Adrian I will marry you!" Sydney walked over to Adrian as he wrapped his arms around her kissing her cheeks, lips, and forehead all over.

"Feel like eating?"

"No but the baby does! Give me that food!"

"Damn Sage if you're going to be this feisty being pregnant I want to have about 30 kids." Adrian chuckled as he smiled brighter than ever.

"Don't push your luck babe. Let's just get this baby done first." She snickered as she bit into her eggplant. The taste was heavenly and this whole moment turned out to be the perfect family moment. She looked at the ring he had placed on her finger. It was them in her mind. The yellow gold was him, the Rose gold was her, and the diamond was something that was forged under the greatest pressure. They were always under extreme pressure it all fit. After the wonderful meal and dessert, Adrian warmed up some oil and gave Sydney and all over massage to get her to relax. Her back, arms, legs and feet never felt so good. She was out like a light as Adrian curled her into his body. Both were out like a light smiling as they slept peacefully.

Everyone had just finished eating when Dimitri walked into the kitchen. Christian had just put the last of the dishes away while Dimitri was about to leave. "Dimitri can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure what is it Christian?"

"I want you to leave Tasha and Rose both alone."

"I don't know what you're talking about Christian."

"Please man, we are not fucking blind dumb ass." Eddie remarked as he and Mia walked in.

"If you haven't noticed Rose was not here and Tasha has barely spoke at dinner. She is barely functioning and if it wasn't for Damien she probably wouldn't be. Give both of them some space man. This pissing match with Ivan is getting old and it's too much." Christian growled.

"What is this gang up on Dimitri day?" he grumbled not realizing they all heard it.

"Yeah Dimitri it is. Rose loved you with every beat of her heart. Then when you told her you didn't love her anymore she died. You killed her before she almost lost her life in that house in Japan. You weren't there for her. Ivan and I was. She was a wreck and then when she found Tasha and Damien's family it almost destroyed her again. So man up and quit being a whiny little bitch. Damien is just a baby and he has more man in him than you right now. Tasha and Rose deserve more than the way you and Ivan are treating them. So back off or else. Rose has bigger fish to fry then you." Nathan left the room just as fast as he entered it.

"If all of you don't mind I think I am strong enough to speak for myself. Could you all please leave so I can talk to Dimitri alone?" Everyone's head turned to see Tasha standing there holding a sleepy Damien in her arms.

"Yes Aunt Tasha, we were just clearing the stagnant air."

"Thank you Christian but I can speak for myself and so can Rose. Can you please take Damien and read to him till I get there? This won't take long." Tasha softly asked as she handed her adoptive son to Christian. He nodded as Damien went to him without a fight.

Everyone filed out leaving Dimitri standing there with Tasha looking at him shaking her head. "Dimitri we have been friends for years. So I know that you love me on some form of level. Rose was the greatest love of your life I know." He started to say something when she held up her hand as she shook her head. "You need to stop. Stop chasing Rose, stop pressuring her and let her be. I say this as your oldest friend to stop bothering her and give her the space she needs. Furthermore, I want you to leave me alone as well. I have loved you for so long. I loved everything about you for years and yet you were always in love with Rose. I can't do this anymore either. I thought at one point it may have been out desperation but it wasn't. It wasn't because you may have thought I was lonely or that I didn't date other men because of my scarred up face. No its because I only loved you since the time we were children. So when I say this know what I say is how I really feel and mean. Stay away from me. We all have had so much drama and need time to absorb what has happened. I want to focus on me and Damien, and not have to think about you. We all need to think about things before anything else. So give Rose and I some space. And take this time to think what you really want. If you don't you will regret, it more than the rest of us." Tasha didn't bother to look at him before she left. She now had a son to take care of and Damien comes first.