Seven

Life couldn't be any better than it was right now. It's as simple as that. My life means everything to me now. I have it all, everything. All that a person craves for in life is what I have. I still don't realize how lucky I got it. Sure some minor details had to be thrown out. Like guarding Lissa, sure she's still my best friend, yes the bond between us is still intake (by the way she misses me), but there are more important things to consider now. For instance my daughter, who'll take care of her with the same affection and love only a mother could bring. No one that's who, only me.

God he is so gorgeous. I think god is a great way of explaining him. Who was I thinking of? Oh just my soon to be husband. Yes I say soon to be instead of fiancé because right now at this point I'm getting married to him. Mental squeal. Yeah like I'm going to squeal out loud during the ceremony in front of all my new friends. Anyway, today's the day where I Rosemarie Hathaway shall wed Dimitri Belikov and forever covet the name of Roza Belikov.

All my dreams, have finally come true. Well maybe marriage wasn't on the things I wanted most in life, but now standing here it seems to have shimmied it's way to the top of the golden list. Clutching Dimitri's hand closer to mine I smiled into his eyes. I knew he was happy, let's just say I can tell. Ever since I met him I've had this weird ability to… know him. We were made for each other. We really were, I can't live without him anymore and he can say the same for me. Now we both have a little girl to show the world of our love. Sure some people (like Lissa) knew of our secret love life, but I didn't care anymore, if people knew or not. I love Dimitri and now we're here pledging our love for the other.

Getting the priest to perform the matrimonial ceremony was easy. Apparently he's a regular patient of Rebekah, so he was more than glad to marry Dimitri to me. This was pretty nice of him seeing how we decided to get married at regular time (night for humans). As if the man had done this a million times he rushed through the enchanting words to the part where Dimitri and I would repeat our vows. Naturally, like any good couplewe hand wrote our vows to one another. I must say this had to be the most inspiring piece of work I've ever written, even though it was about how much I loved Dimitri.

By the end of it all fresh tears were spilling down my cheeks onto my borrowed wedding dress. Yeah I know it's formal for the bride to buy a dress, but it's too pretty and it was free. Straight from Mary's closet collecting dust over the years to a perfectly fitted me. Yup, I was wearing the same exact dress Mary married Ben in. It's amazing though this sucker fit me like a glove. Oh well it's best not to think of these kinds of things, especially when Mary is involved with it.

Saying the final words of 'I do.' Dimitri passionately kissed me on the lips with a full force before unfortunately breaking it to face the witnesses. Who else was going to be here besides Dimitri's new family. It's not like I could call up any of my friends unless I wanted a dead husband. Walking down the alter I was handed my sleeping baby, as we walked back to our house, hand in hand with my new husband.

Oh that's another thing. We got a new house. Yeah since our other one is now open to Strigoi central, we decided it was safer for both me and the baby to move our location to another part of the outskirts to the town. However, I liked this house better. It is much more grander than the other one. With a whole bedroom suite for both me and Dimitri, which would have to sustain us as for a honeymoon. Another setback, because of the Strigoi, and the baby, and the fact that Dimitri has to practically stay incognito. We decided to stay home and do the things that most couples would do on their honeymoon. And yes, it's exactly how it sounds.

Placing Catherine in her crib I stared down at her, watching her peacefully sleep. Then tip toed out of her room jetting to my own. Shutting the door and rushing with taking off my enormous dress. Hands were already at my assistance as the dress flew over my head. Looking at the only other person in the room I attacked him head on. Kisses danced around us as we both sauntered over to the bed never breaking stride of macking with the other.

Playing hands rocked through my hair as I closed my eyes and wished that this night would never end. Eventually my bra and other underwear essentials left my bodice and we devoured each other into the night.

Where am I? Looking around I tried to counter my whereabouts. Nothing, from what it appeared to be was someplace located in Eastern Europe maybe Romania… Ukraine.

"Hello. Dimitri. Mary. Anybody?" I heard a sound come from behind me. Okay it's not like I get scared easily, but what the hell is it? "Umm… hi." I said trying to sound as friendly as possible. Positioning myself in case it just so happens to be Strigoi, I stood my ground awaiting.

"Ro… Rose." A small voice called out to me. The only thing was, was that knew that voice. I'd known that voice all my life.

"Lissa?"Stepping into sight was none other than my best friend Lissa.

"Rose is that you?" She asked astonished.

"Liss… But how?"She only smiled back at me.

"Yes I did it, Adrien was right I can dream skip." Then her smile became a frown."You know it's about time, I've been trying to reach you for months."

"I'm… sorry." Feeling guilty that I somehow completely ignored the only best friend I truly ever had. Walking over she gave me a hug.

"I thought you were dead." She whispered into my ear.

"Far from it Liss." A small smile grew back onto her face as I spoke those words.

"Then you can come back."She pleaded.

"Huh?"

"Don't you see Rose, forget about Dimitri, he's gone and he's never coming back. Please Rose, come back to me and become my guardian. Maybe if you're lucky Dimitri will be one of the Strigoi who just so happen to attack me. Please Rose I only feel safe when your protecting me. I… I miss you." What was Lissa saying?

"Lissa I… I can't."

"Yes you can." She was down to begging now."Forget about Dimitri come back to me Rose."

"No Lis you really don't understand."

"What, what's wrong. Have you been kidnapped… Are you going to be made into a Strigoi too Rose? No please they can't Rose. I just got you back I don't want to lose you again." Letting her rant on I decided to fully explain myself as best as I could.

"Liss stop, your being way over dramatic. Nothing is happening I'm not dying. I'm actually the quite the opposite. Liss..." A smile stretched onto my face."I'm happy."

"Your hunting a Strigoi whose only goal in life is to kill and drink blood." I was already shaking my head.

"No Liss he's not like that."

She gasped."You've… you've already…"Wow this girl was far from off today.

"No Lissa listen to me. He's not dead, he's just… he's different."

"So you haven't killed him yet."Recognition raced across her face."Then get the job done and get your curvy little butt back to me. I have some people for you to meet."

"Lissa it's not that simple."

"Sure it is." She said confused as to why I wasn't going along with her self- centered plan."You've killed dozens of Strigoi. Look Rose I know he may seem like the real Dimitri that you know and… love, but Rose he's dead."

"You know nothing." I growled at her. "He's not dead."

"Rose." She spoke compassionately. "Just leave, come back to me. Trust me you'll be happy with me and Christian." She whispered the last part.

"Lissa for the hundredth millionth time. I can't!"

"Why not." She screamed back to me. Ugh it was like trying to tell a two year old, that the sky was blue instead of green. She was making everything so frustrating.

"Because I have a family" I threw back at her waving my wedding bands in her face.

She gasped only for real this time while her eyes practically bulged out of her head.

"You married a Strigoi. Rose…" She whispered trailing off in the end not able to speak her last remark.

"And like I said I'm happy. I'm not coming back, I may never come back." I said through clenched teeth.

And just like that my eyes fluttered open to darkness. A new day had began and here I was sleeping next to the only man who'd I want to be with for the rest of my life.

A month had passed with not even a hint of Lissa trying to surge into my dreams. However, this concept rarely ever conflicted with me. I glad on what I told Lissa. She needed to once and for all stay out of my life. Just because she wanted me to be her guardian doesn't mean that I'm all so willing. I could tell you that she'd mad at me. I could that she's hiding something from me. Did I care. Nope Lissa can go live her royal Moroi life for all I cared… with Christian.

Right now I have a family to attend to. A loving husband that will bend for my every need and a beautiful fourteen month year old daughter. She's gotten so big since she was born, already able to walk and talk, she's just so mature. It took a few months, I mean with her being born an all. Dimitri and I had to post pone the wedding till just last month, but we got by with everything. Now, I'm just running through the days. It almost doesn't feel like it's enough. There's only so much in a day where I can share my presence with Dimitri and Catherine. Luckily and thankfully, for Dimitri who never sleeps, takes night watch over Catherine, allowing me to get a well rested night's sleep. Beat that for all you mothers who have to get up at three in the morning.

Yup my life was perfect. And speaking of perfect right now I am sharing a picture perfect family moment with the two people who meant the most of my life right now. It was like any other day, but it meant something so much better. Dimitri and I were walking through the frozen park in the village while little Catherine tagged along playing in the snow with much enthusiasm. Unlike the common one year old that wobbles as they walk, Catherine was graceful. It was shocking at first but when you really concentrate on genetics it makes sense. With both me and Dimitri combined we probably made the most graceful little girl that the world has seen, that would put even the most experience ballerina to shame.

As we neared the edge of the park a sharp pain gutted in my stomach. Jutting backwards to it's painful touch Dimitri looked at me with concern in his eyes. Waving it off I finally realized where the pain came from. Strigoi, and they were close, very close. Looking for Catherine I saw that Dimitri had already scooped her up, placing the sweet child into my arms.

"What's wrong?" He asked

"Strigoi." I gave as an answer.

"Where?" The pain increased dramatically.

"Everywhere." I seethed. Then like an angry swarm of bees, one by one they emerged from the protection of the forest. Aww shit they must have gotten through the wards, again. Staring down at the little girl in my arms I took the option of flight as I fled to the closest shelter within reach. Closing the door behind me to the house I began barking for the others to get their asses down into the foyer. Within seconds six pairs of eyes were staring back at me.

"We're under attack." I said swiftly. Without another word they all departed from the house leaving me and Catherine to fend for ourselves. Feeling the need to severely protect the child in my arms I ran to my master bedroom and barricaded the doors behind me. I knew that in no way it strong enough to hold back a Strigoi, but I needed to do something. Anything for Catherine.

Screams purged the air from the nearby town and I clutched my daughter in my arms holding my hands gingerly over her ears to try to mask out the sounds of terror. She didn't make an effort or protest of what I was doing, she just sat there playing with a piece of my hair. As I rocked her I speaking soothing words to try to relax both her and myself. What if something happened to Dimitri? Oh no please god no.

Time passed in what seemed like hours, but the sounds of what seemed to come from a horror movie never dissipated. I knew Catherine would be getting hungry after awhile and I couldn't just leave her alone. So creeping out of the room with her in my arms I made my way to the kitchen settling her down on the counter while I went to the fridge to get something for her and me to eat. Pawing through I decided that it may not be a bad idea to take a little blood. I mean, she was Moroi and it's not like I had a feeder ready in this time of crisis. So taking the food and Catherine I hoisted her up to the bedroom once again and we wanted in silence for the rest of the night until both she and I dozed off.

Shaking me awake, automatically I was ready, jumping up to brace my attacker. Like hell was he even going to lay a finger on my daughter. But in jumping up I realized it was only Dimitri. Giving a weak smile I rushed into his arms crying for what was happening to such an innocent town.

"Shh." He tried to sooth me."It's okay. I'm okay." He said is a calm voice.

"What about the others?" I managed to crack out.

"They're safe too, they're all downstairs." Without another word we headed down the fancy flared stairs, child in arms. I followed Dimitri of what could finally be the end to the happiest moments to our lives and to what could be the end of them as well.