Chapter eighteen
Slowly and reassuringly the pieces of my life were just beginning to be put back together. At the time all of us, meaning my family and close friends, were consumed with enthusiasm for the arrival of our new baby. Or more specifically our, as in, Dimitri's and mine. Yes life couldn't be well, more better. I guess I can't say that it was perfect (that and the fact of once again I'm learning from my past mistakes), but hopefully I could get close to perfection once more. Already, I was assigned to be the replacement guardian for Queen Lissa, since her other guardians died in the Strigoi crossfire. Other than that, Dimitri also as well was to rejoin the guardians once more after the baby has been born.
He seemed so contented with the news. Basically, he was inherent to becoming a guardian since birth. It's in blood, well figuratively speaking, of course. Recently, he was designated to the protection of one of the Ivashkov, a very distant relative of Adrian's. Which considering he was beginning his position next week, it only made me more impatient for the baby's coming arrival. Lissa too. Of course, she doesn't want to appear selfish, which she isn't. Lissa is staggering with happiness to just of the thought of me finally becoming her guardian/best friend. Presently, she's already customized all three of our bedrooms (Mine, Catherine's and little Jasha's) at her castle/mansion house. Which certainly is new, since the recent Strigoi encounter and their knowledge of Lissa's whereabouts and everything else.
But even she was emotionally excited for Jasha's arrival date. Which currently was umm… let's see supposedly today. God, I loved it so much when Catherine turned up to be an early baby. But now time was short and this baby was being incredibly annoying on wanting to be considered late. However, as long as he came before his father's departure, I couldn't have cared any other way on how he appeared into this world. This baby was meant to be loved the second he from the womb. And I deeply planned for the both of his parents to be at attendance for when he comes.
As for my first child though, she was overly satisfied with the new events taking place in her life, or more specifically her and Andre. They've only been aquatinted for what I've guessed to be five months, but it must seem like an eternity for them. Both of them are in this together, always requesting the other at all times of the day. They couldn't be seperated, morning, noon or night. Already Lissa and I are joking about a future wedding for both of our eldest children (Andre's the older twin by I think five minutes). If that's even possible? Most likely it's just a small phase that Catherine's going through in her life. Discovering boys at age two. Yeah, that's normal. It should hopefully dissipate in a few months or so, but who knows? Perhaps, she'll choose the life of a Moroi, or she could follow through with the life of guardianship. Who knows, I won't push her. It's her life; I don't want to have to control it in any way. Or at least unless it was a special circumstance. However, as for her brother's upcoming approaching date. She's still dramatically excited about the whole event, but somehow she's more distracted to her sudden friendship with Andre.
Huh. Maybe I'm just being paranoid or something about the whole thing. Yup that's it. It's just pre… hormonal… pregnancy… syndrome, I guess. Absolutely, Catie's and Andre's friendship, relationship thingy is defiantly getting to me. Well no shit to that. Nothing is positively happening with them, nothing is going to happen to them. There just really good friends. Sort of like Lissa and me (without the strange freaky bond). Who knows, maybe they just have a certain link like a Moroi/guardian thing. But as pondered the subject more greatly I knew my gut instinct was telling me something else. Oh well, who cares, the future is so far unwritten enough that I shouldn't have to worry about it. Or at least for a decade or so.
Right not, I didn't need to afflict torment on my mind anymore, especially on situations I couldn't control. I should be happy, ecstatic even. Because unlike the tragic events that had occurred, no more than six months ago. I was now with my most favorite person in the world. The one person who I had given my heart to and asked for nothing in return. My husband, Dimitri. Right now, instead of even enjoying this precious moment, I was spacing out and stressing over a highly unlikely future for my daughter. Especially one that is most improbable. I mean come on, her and Andre, no way. Once they get into… I don't know high school. Catherine will be attending more on her studies to becoming a guardian or whatever. And Andre will find interest in some other Moroi girls who he'll most likely marry once he graduates.
Wait a minute. Oh shit. Oh yes. Oh no. Shit. My water just broke. Shit. No this is a good thing right. Shit I forgot how much the contractions hurt. Ow, holy mother of…
"Uhh Dimitri." I said despite all the muscular pain I was going through at this point. Resolutely Dimitri looked down from one of his many western novels, giving me his full attention at my command."It's… time." I stuttered to say. Ugh, breathe just breathe. His eyebrows shot up to my declaration, but without another breath at all, he whipped me into his arms and rushed my trembling body through the vacant hallways to the hospital sector of the pokey. Immediately, when he broke through the swinging doors, nurse's heads perked up and I was automatically transported to the only delivering room in this joint.
Gingerly settling onto one of the beds my feet were directly thrust up onto some very cold, I might add, metal peddles thingy's. Which only made the situation more painful, at least for me. Instantly, Dimitri was by side, following through with the promise he made me a little over two years ago. Giving me his hand I held tightly onto it, feeling a new source of determination and confidence shoot through my body. But however, this was completely muddled to the fact of the raging convulsions taking place inside my body. Painful tremors shook me as the baby's contractions started to grow closer together.
Looking out through the room's windows I managed to see both my mother and Lissa intently watching for the arrival of my son. Mu son, the one who'd like to hurt mommy before he was even born. Is it even possible to ground your kids before there even brought into this world? Because boy was he terrible and I thought Catherine's delivery was bad enough. Small, tiny screams escaped from my mouth as the child inside me pushed for a way out.
"Get him out." I pleaded to one of the doctors, fighting back tears that threatened to stream out. All I wanted was the pain to go down to at least a minimum of bearable.
"Isn't there anything you can do for her?" Dimitri demanded from the medical team.
"Acupuncture." A nurse responded, moving next to me and applying slight amounts of pressure where the majority of the torment was taking place. Gradually, the pain started to wane away enough for me to recommence on the baby's delivery. So there I laid, awaiting for the doctors next directions in the semi- painful process.
"We're all set for you to push." The doctor quickly instructed me.
"Now?" But my last child took at least five hours?" I nervously questioned. Okay so, so far I've endured a maximum of two hours of labor. Wasn't this too fast. Oh please tell me the baby's alright.
"Yes I'm positive." The doctor reassured me. "Rose if you're going to do it, you have to do it now. Nodding to the man's command I followed through with the doctor's advisement, giving birth to my little man.
"Congratulations, he's a perfectly healthy baby boy." One of the doctors announced.
"Yay." I weakly cheered. Draining the last of my energy and reacquainting to the suffering of pain that had once consumed my body. And just like that I went out, fainting to the sounds of cries.
"Rose." A voice called after me. But I was already gone, swelled into the darkness of night.
Ugh. Why did I feel like I just had gotten hit by a truck? My whole body felt like I just went through a mortal combat fight with a hundred Strigoi, instead of just one measly child birth. However, where was my baby? Opening my eyes I relived the world once more. Greeting the eyes of my husband and the father to both of my children. I smiled up at him as he too looked back at me.
"Hi." I said in a small, feeble voice.
"Hi." He whispered back. "How are you?" He examined me, as he made soft circular motions on my hand.
"Fine." I contemplated, feeling that the answer I gave him was just. He only shook his head.
"You were in so much pain." He reported, making me relive the same memory that occurred only a few hours ago.
"Yeah, but I'm fine now." I persuaded, wanting him to believe the same truth of how I felt. Serious I have felt worse. He sighed at my slight assurance.
"Never make me watch anything like that again." He warned, but then instantly softened up.
"Well seeing how there's not going to be a next time…" I shot back, but he quieted my small defensive statement with a kiss on the lips. And then we held each other, never wanting to let go of the opposite.
"I'm so grateful that you're actually okay. You seriously scared me back there."
"I'm sorry." Feeling that, that was the best response I could possibly give him. I knew if anything were to have to me… I shuddered at the thought. "So where's Jasha." I asked, releasing my grip around Dimitri's neck and settled for just holding his hand into mine. He answered me with a shrug. Great, he's only a couple hours old and neither of his parents know his exact whereabouts.
"My guess is as good as yours. Lissa's having a gaiety just by showing him off to everyone."
"That sounds like Lissa." I muttered to him. Not expecting any sort of response in return. "So have you gotten to hold him yet?" I asked him already jealous, no matter what his answer was going to be.
"Yes." He smiled as if contented to the not so distant memory. Then returned his attention solely on me. "He has my eyes." He murmured while looking down from me."You could almost say he's a miniature version of me, just like Catherine is to you."
"Well, that's impossible." I told him as he looked back at me, confused over my reaction.
"Why?" He finally asked.
"Because no one, not even your own son could copy you. Your one of a kind." I freely told him, being given in return one of his breath taking, sensational smiles. Sharing another kiss, however, letting this one lasted longer than the other. And let's just say this one wasn't the kind that we did normally did, if you get my drift.
"Oh good golly gosh you're actually awake Rose." Came a familiar accented voice. "Oh was this a bad time."
"It always is Mary." I countered to her as she bounced into the room, Ben tailing behind her. "What are you doing here anyway; you know you could still get caught?" She waved it away, rolling her eyes to my comment.
"Please, like anyone's going to lock up lil ole' me." She chirped. "Not with that bill being sign and all so soon." She finished. Ahh that's right. My good friend Lissa stuck to her word, as well as I, and created a law that wouldn't convict Dimitri or any of the others to the type of Strigoi they were born into. In just two months (after I become an official guardian) the document would be signed and good Strigoi all alike… umm would go on with their normal lives I guess. Who knows? It wasn't like I was going to be out of a job. There's still a ton more of those evil, bastard creatures to kill and still a limited supply of guardians to go around. "Well it's about time." Mary muttered as she opened the door for the entering visitors.
I think I almost squeaked, because in came my newborn son, wrapped up in the arms of my best friend Lissa. It was a clash of old friends and new friends all alike, celebrating the same meaning, the birth of Jasha. Without any hesitation, Lissa instantly crossed the room and placed the bundle of cutie, babyness into my arms. I cooed at him as he snuggled down to his new dwelling in my arms.
"Hi Jasha." I whispered to him, kissing the top of his slightly paled forehead. He squirmed at my soft touch, but immediately settled down, returning to his previous resting state. "Where's Catherine." I directed. Feeling a moment of panic swell over as my first child came back into mind. Oh crap, we left all by herself. Shit. Where was she? Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Lissa knowing me inside and out, saw my momentary break down and quickly reassured me from my anxious occurrence.
"It's okay Rose, she's with Christian." Oh, thank god. Thankfully Jasha hadn't awaken to my short stress induced period. As I returned back to the attention of my baby staring down at him for what felt like an eternity of time. However, glancing up at my perfect husband, I saw longing in his eyes as he watched the two of us together. Smiling, I decided that my time with Jasha would be forever, as for Dimitri though. Gesturing for Dimitri to take the child, he contemplated to the idea, but after I willingly forked over the child to him I could see the brightening in his eyes. Already he loved Jasha like a son and although he loved Catherine as well, between the two of them a special bond was forming that not even I could relate to.
"Mommy." Shouted Catherine animatedly, as she ran into the room, jumping upon my bed and wrapping her small arms around my neck. "Your tummy's smaller." She observed as she traced my now flat stomach of where her brother once laid. Dimitri smirked at her comment and I shot him a dirty glare, knowing full well that I could still kick his ass even on my bad days. Okay, maybe that wasn't true, okay it was a complete lie, but seriously.
Catherine followed my gaze, but instead settled on the small infant nestled in Dimitri's steady arms. She grinned back at me finally understand what her father was holding. Her baby brother.
"Can I see him?" She asked already assuming that the answer would be yes. I looked up to Dimitri for any sort of answer, or if he was even going to give up the baby to his daughter. However, reluctantly he nodded to her and instructed her of the proper ideals of holding her brother. Without any help at all though, she got her arms placed in the proper positions and leaned into me for any extra support.
Slowly, Dimitri slid the child into Catherine's arms, and pulled away from his full grip on our son. Watching for any emotional reaction to Catie, she beamed down at the small baby who slumbered on her lap.
"Hi Jasha." She said to him. "I'm Catie your big sister. I know you can't understand me yet, but I will always be there, looking out for you." Awe, she may say that now, but in a few years she'll deny every single word she had ever just said. I've seen enough sibling cases to know what Jasha's and Catherine's future will entail. A few physical fights and a lot of philippic wording. Yup can't wait till their teenager years begin.
It wasn't too much longer until Catherine started complaining about her tired arms and the baby was removed from them, reliving her of the add weight. After a day of both hardship and laziness I was just glad to return to my artificial bedroom.
Currently, the baby was to stay down in the hospital wing for at least a couple of days. Just to keep an eye on him at least, to make sure nothing serious could have developed with him before or after his birth. Of course though, I didn't go down without a fight. It literally took both Dimitri and my mom to persuade me enough to leave the baby there overnight. Hey what can I say, I'm an over protective mother.
Seriously though, I guess my bond with Lissa has been brought back to life, if her emotions are still corrupting my mind. God I hate being just a bitch, but at the same time I can't help it. I guess this is how the way my life was meant to be. How things were meant to balance out, or least for Lissa and me. If Dimitri could handle my raging fury then that's all I could ask for. Because truthfully he'd just have to get use to it. Or we could think of a way. We always do.
As for right now though, I'm heading back to school. Or at least that's where the ceremony will be taking place for when I finally become a registered guardian. Yup, from here till now I have endless finals that were meant for me two years ago. But there's no time like the present, right. It may have taken away awhile, but I think I've finally gotten my life straighten around. Along with some additional surprises that I didn't even think a psychic could have seen coming. But in the end, I just wish time could speed up so I could get onto being a guardian and protect the ones I loved, along with endure the life of being a proper mother and wife.