WOW so I must say I am a lot happier with this chapter than the previous although it took me a while to post. I hope you guys like it. Keep up with the reviews and enjoy. For those who live on the east coast and just got hit with the foot if not more of snow be safe and have fun, I know I will.
Characters are owned by Richelle Mead.
"Your dad called me and told me you were awake, oh my gosh Rose I am so happy right now" she said quietly giving me an awkward hug because I had the baby in my arms.
"I missed you" I said smiling as my best friend embraced me.
"I think she gets cuter every time I see her" Lissa said kissing her head which caused her eyes to flutter open slightly before closing again.
"Sorry" she whispered when Abigail's eyes fluttered open again squinting from the lights before she letting out a soft cry.
My body tensed, realizing that I was actually a mother now and I was still unsure if I would be able to do everything that was expected from me. I didn't want to make any mistakes.
"Do you want me to take her?" Adrian asked standing next to me.
Shaking my head I returned my attention to her.
"It's ok pookie bear" I said rocking her in my arms. The tears stopped immediately, her eyes trying to focus on me.
"She has your eyes" I said a tear running down my cheek. Even in my dream they were not as beautiful as now. Adrian was right she was perfect.
"Your mom said the bald head comes from you" he said laughing as he leaned down kissing my shoulder running his hand over her bald head.
"I told you that mommy would be coming soon" he said his voice cracking as he spoke. Turning my head I leaned forward kissing his cheek and then his lips when he turned his face towards me. He seemed so broken and I knew that it would take us both some time to heal.
"She is probably hungry I am going to go fix her a bottle" he said once we broke the kiss. .
"Adrian can you ask the doctor when I will be able to start breast feeding?" I asked looking over my shoulder to see him. I figured all the medication pumping through my body right now would not be safe for her to consume through my breast milk.
"Yeah I will ask" he said smiling as he walked out.
Once he was out the door I turned my attention back to Lissa how was still standing staring quietly at Abigail and me.
"Lissa will you wheel me over to the couch? This chair is not to comfortable" I said loudly when I realized she was staring off in space.
"Of course" she said shaking her head before pushing me over and helping me get to the couch. She offered to put the baby in the bassinet while we moved from the chair to the couch but I refused. The thought of her not being with me even for a few seconds caused anxiety and panic to course through my body.
"Lissa I need to know what happened. Adrian said once I am better he would tell me but I know he is going to try and keep it from me as long as possible trying to protect me but I need to know" I said pleading to her. As I stared at her I noticed the toll that this had taken on her as well. Although the circles under her eyes were not as large or as dark as Adrian's they were still quit noticeable and there was a darkness in her eyes. I knew that I would have to take the darkness that spirit had obviously caused her before she lost it, but I couldn't bring myself to offer just yet. I wasn't sure how my body would handle it and wanted to call Oksana and Mark to get their advise before.
"Rose" she started to whine.
"Please Lissa" is all I said when she let out a sigh and I knew she was going to give me what I wanted.
"Alright but don't tell him you know let him tell you himself" she said before she started to tell me about how they saved Abigail and my life.
LPOV
"He is crazy" Christian said as we scrolled through hundreds of ads for recliners.
"Christian do you think he would have us wasting our time doing this and not looking for Rose if he didn't think this would help" I snapped at him. I felt bad as soon as I had done it but I was so tired and my body was begging for food and not the kind humans eat. I had refused to go to the feeders with Christian the last two times he had gone. I couldn't stop or as Christian said I wouldn't stop. so clicking another ad for a recliner I let my eyes scan the page before realizing it was the wrong style.
"I am sorry I keep snapping at you, I just feel so lost without her" I said clicking open another ad.
"I know Lissa I don't blame you she is your best friend and we all want to find her but you need to start taking better care of yourself. Lissa look at me, when is the last time you slept?" he asked cupping my face forcing me to look away from the computer screen.
"I will sleep when we get her back" I said pulling my face from his grasp. Christian moved back to his computer, soon I heard him clicking away going back to work. I rubbed my eyes a few times when the words started to run together and blur. I didn't answer his question about sleep because I couldn't remember the last time I had actually sleep. I couldn't ever remember what day it was anymore, right now I could not tell you what month we were in.
Two hours later I was about to cry it seemed like it was a dead end when I clicked open an ad.
"I think I found something" I said jumping from the chair to grab my phone.
"What?" Christian jumped up rubbing his eyes before reading the page I had open on my computer.
"Lissa what are you doing? It is in the middle of the night in the human world" he said trying to grab my phone.
"Don't touch it" I hissed at him. He retracted his hand quickly.
The phone rung over five times before going to voicemail. I hung up and dialed again. After the third ring a voice came onto the line.
"Hello" a woman's voice said.
"Hi, I was calling about the recliner you had put on the internet to sell. Could you tell me if you still have that for sale" I said trying to slow down so she would be able to understand me.
"Do you know what time it is?" she asked irritation filling her voice.
"I do and I am sorry but could you just answer the question" I said.
"No we don't have it anymore. My piece of crap boyfriend found out how much it was worth and sold it on the internet he went out to deliver it in Nebraska and never came back. He probably ran off with my money since he left over a week ago and I haven't heard from him. Now if you don't mind I would like to get back to sleep" she said.
"Wait" I screamed feeling like this could be the clue we had been looking for.
"What I told you I don't have the recliner what else can I do for you" she practically yelled at me.
"Where in Nebraska?" I asked knowing it probably wouldn't help but I had to try.
"What why does it matter? You seriously want the recliner that bad" she said.
"Yes, now please just tell me" I pleaded with her.
"Outside of Omaha in a small town I think it was called Halko no what was it. Hang on I wrote it down. It was Chalco. Hope you find it" she hung up before I could say anything else.
Before I knew what I was doing I was outside running towards the gym.
"Lissa what are you doing? What did she say?" Christian yelled at me as he ran behind me trying to catch up. I didn't stop nor did I answer him instead I busted through the double doors of the gym drawling all of the attention to me.
"I think I know where she is" I yelled before collapsing into a chair.
I have never seen Adrian move so quickly, before I could catch my breath he was standing in front of me along with about twenty other people.
"Where and why do you think she is there?" he asked his face was strained waiting to hear my reply.
"I found an ad for the recliner like you told me to look for everything matched up to what you gave us, so I called. A lady answered and was not to happy because it is in the middle of the night for them. She told me her boyfriend sold the recliner when he realized how much it was worth" I said now being able to breathe completely.
"I am not sure I am following, what would make you so sure that he sold it to Dimitri?" Alec asked. Adrian whipped his eyes away from me to glance at Alec.
"I am assuming there is more, continue Lissa while we still have night cover and can board the plane if necessary" Adrian said bringing his eyes back to me. I didn't get to see the look Adrian gave Alec but it must not of been friendly because Alec didn't ask anything else.
"Well she said that he went to drop the recliner off in some small town in Nebraska and never came back. I am sure the recliner is worth some money but if you ask me I think her boyfriend didn't get a chance to come back" I said watching the wheels start turning in everyone's head when they realized what I was suggesting.
"So you believe that Dimitri killed the man after he sold him the recliner?" Oksana asked.
"Yes" I nodded my head. I was about to ask what next but Adrian was now standing in front of Abe talking a million words a minute.
"Lissa good job and thank you I think this is the first solid lead we have had and we will know shortly if it leads anywhere. Why don't you go catch a few hours of sleep, Abe had called in a favor with a friend that will be able to see if there has been an increase in missing persons or deaths in the last month in Nebraska. I will come find you if we find anything out" Adrian said wrapping his arms around me.
"Thank you, you have done so much for Rose and I. But it is going to be a long day once the ball starts to roll and I know you are going to want to accompany us, so please go take a nap or something" he said letting me go and pushing me towards an awaiting Christian.
I finally agreed once I talked to another four people that agreed to come find me if and when we found something out. I felt like a crappy best friend going to sleep when Rose was still out there alone with a monster.
I slipped into the bed while Christian slid into the other side pulling me into his arms. As soon as my head hit his bare chest I was asleep. No nightmares haunted my sleep, I hadn't told anyone about the another reason why I hadn't been sleeping was because of all the nightmares. No matter how hard I tried it seemed like every time I closed my eyes to rest I saw another way Rose and her baby would die or be turned and I could no longer take it. But tonight there was no red eyed Rose or lifeless baby it was just peace.
I woke up feeling refreshed for the first time in a while but then I realize what had pulled me from my sleep was someone beating on my door. Christian bolted out of the bed grabbing the door.
"What?" he hissed pulling the door open to reveal Mark standing there.
"Sorry, I know you two were trying to catch up on your sleep but Adrian is already boarding the plane and sent me to collect you two if you will be accompanying us" he said looking around Christian's body to see if I heard what he had said.
"Give me two minutes to change and we will meet you at the plane" I said pulling open my suitcase that I still hadn't unpacked grabbing a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt. I glanced at the clock and realized we had only sleep for a hour. I guess when you are sleep deprived a hour seems like a day.
Christian had closed the door and was now staring at me as I struggled to pull off his oversized hoodie I had been wearing earlier.
"What?" I asked when I realized he was just standing there staring at me.
"I know you are not going to like this but I don't think you should go."
I was about to protest when he threw his hands out "just hear me out" he said watching me nod my head for him to continue.
"I know you want to help and that you want to be there when they find her, but Lissa it is not safe. We have no clue what we are walking in to and you can not protect yourself. I will go and I will make sure we get her back safely" he said moving towards me to grab my hands, but I pulled them back.
"Don't you dare tell me it is not safe, you don't think I know that? Why do you think I want to go because it is not safe, not only for me but for Rose. She is probably hurt and I am the only one that can help her" I screamed at him. I loved him but he had to realize that Rose was my best friend practically my sister and if he thought I was going to back down and sit here while everyone else risked their life and did their part in getting her back he was sadly mistaken.
"But you can't" he said his words were said lightly but they hit me like a bus.
"What is that suppose to mean?" I hissed at him.
"You can't help her, she can't be healed because of the baby" he said his voice continued to remain calm like he was trying to get me to see the logic of it all.
"I don't care, I am going if you are so worried about safety by all means stay here" I said grabbing my shoes from the floor. I didn't bother putting them on, I just walked out the door running toward the plane. Christian ran behind me protesting but I didn't care, all I could think about is getting on the plane and going to get my best friend.
I didn't stop running until I stood at the steps of the plane, I could hear Christian behind me huffing trying to catch his breath. I was happy he was coming because I needed him there with me but it didn't mean I wasn't still upset with him for thinking I would actually stay behind.
Adrian was sitting in the first seat next to Abe. They both were in deep conversation and were glancing down at a map that had been marked up pretty good with blue X's. Adrian's eyes shot up when he heard me walk onto the plane.
"Cousin" he said standing before me wrapping his arms around my body. I wrapped my arms around him to return the hug we both desperately needed.
"We are going to bring her home" I mumbled into his chest.
"Yes we are we are going to bring them both home" he said kissing the top of my head. It had been a while since he should me any affection. After Rose went missing he didn't bother hugging me, he had stopped calling me cousin only referring me by Lissa. I knew he blamed me, because I blamed myself. Things were changing we were all filled with hope once again.
"Take a seat once we are in the air we will explain everything" he said letting me go so the rest of the people could board the plane.
The plane filled quickly and I noticed that one of the academy's jets were also being filled with guardians. Adrian's parents were staying at the academy along with Dimitri's family that had arrived the night before. I was in my room still looking through the ads when Christian had left to feed when he came back he told me about their arrival and that Adrian flipped out. He didn't have many details but it didn't surprise me that he wouldn't allow them to accompany us on this trip. Oksana insisted on coming so she could help heal and Mark went wherever she went.
I sat staring out the window when I felt Christian approach and sit down.
"I am sorry" he said wiping the hair from my face.
"I am too, I know you say it is not my fault but I can't help but feel some responsibility and I need to do whatever I can to make sure Rose and her baby get home safely. I have to do this" I said still staring out the window.
"I know" was all he said. We sat in silence until the plane took off and Adrian stood to speak.
I tensed up waiting for him to start. His eyes were closed and his hand was on the back of the seat where Abe was sitting. From where I sat it looked like he was attempting to hold himself up. I was sure it was to prevent him from breaking down not because of his fear of turbulence. His eyes opened and he stared at me intently before gazing his eyes around the rest of the jet.
"I want to start off by saying thank you, it has been a really hard couple of weeks for us all and I know that I have not been the easiest person to be around for that I apologize. I realize that many if not all that sit here have some form of relationship with Rose and some if not all even love her enough to sit here willing to risk your life for her and our unborn child. As most of you know Lissa was able to find some information that has proved to be very helpful. We were able to narrow down our search area with that information and now we have a good idea where Dimitri is holding Rose. When we land it will be around five in the morning, that being human morning. Although it will still be dark and more dangerous we feel that is it important to gain entrance as soon as possible and get Rose out. If there is anyone that is not comfortable with this you can stay on the jet until we return. Guardian Hathaway is going to give you the rest of the details" he said his voice breaking slightly he bowed his head before turning his back to us to enter the bathroom.
Janine stood after a minute and started telling us about the location of the house and the surrounding area before handing out blueprints of the house.
"These are the old blueprints from the previous owner so we do not know what types of changes Dimitri may have made but it is the best we could do. There are four bedrooms upstairs we are assuming he is using the master bedroom that is closest to the bathroom. Please make a note of all entrances and exits that can be used. If you are in the house there is a strong possibility that you may have to exit quickly. We will be arriving in darkness but light shall follow shortly, we can use this to our advantage. Once we land there will be a small meeting a few guardians flew out when we first learned of the location to make sure it was a valid, the will discuss what they found out before we go. Please be safe" she said before resuming her seat across the aisle from Abe.
Adrian emerged from the bathroom his face holding the same desperate look that he had the day he found out Rose was gone, but now there was a small glimmer of hope. Although most would not get past the dark circles and the red blotchiness that consumed his face. In that moment I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him it would be ok, but even I couldn't promise that. I had no clue what I would do if I was in his situation and someone took Christian. My heart thumped as a wave of nausea hit me thinking how lost I would be if he was no longer with me.
I shifted my eyes away from Adrian when I noticed Abe embrace him, I knew Rose would be happy that her fiancée and dad seemed to get along quite well I am sure she would not have chosen for it to happen under these circumstances. I shifted my eyes to Christian that was lightly sleeping his head cocked to the side. I leaned over kissing his cheek before resting my head on his shoulder.
"I love you" I whispered into his ear before closing my eyes. I slept for over a hour when Christian woke me up so I could look over the blueprints and figure out all of the exits. We were going to be landing in less than a hour and my stomach was in knots. In less than two hours we could have Rose and her baby back.
"Lissa I know you have already decided that you are going but promise me you will stay with me at all times. I can protect you, but if you run off trying to be the hero I will only get hurt trying to save you" Christian said brining our intertwined hands up to his mouth kissing them lightly.
"I promise" I said loudly followed by "I will try" that was said quietly and since Christian didn't respond I assumed he didn't hear it which I was thankful for.
The meeting was quick and to the point. There were three entrances a front door, back door and a basement entrance. Two cars were parked in the driveway and the house was well lit. There were more than two people in the house. When the guardian said this I think everyone including myself stopped breathing it meant that Rose was alone and pregnant in a house full of Strigoi. They quickly continued not allowing us to dwell on the new information to tell us about the advanced security system that seemed to be in place although it seemed to be unsecured while they were there.
I climbed into a SUV that was being driven by Alec, Christian sat next to me while Abe occupied the front seat, Adrian and Janine took the middle row with Alberta. Eddy climbed over the seat next to Christian. He had been pretty silent since we found out about the other Strigoi. I knew he still had a hard time after what happened with Mason and then being abducted as well.
"You ok?" I asked reaching around Christian to put my hand on top of Eddy's.
"Yeah I will be fine once we get them back" he said turning his head to stare out of the window.
The ride was silent the only time anyone spoke is when Abe was directing Alec where to go since we were the leading SUV. He turned down a small dirt road before Abe instructed him to pull it over and that we would walk from here. The dream I had came rushing back all of the pieces were falling into place and I felt my stomach tighten and my breathing hitch.
"Are you ok?" Christian asked when I started squeezing his hand.
"Yeah" I lied and tried to give him a reassuring smile that I was sure he saw right through.
We all quickly exited the SUV and were instructed to stay behind the guardians they would be the first to enter and then give an all clear before the rest of us could enter. Adrian objected saying he would enter with the guardians nobody argued with him realizing there was nothing that would stop him from entering that house. Abe also said he would be entering. Janine glanced at him but she must of realized there was no way to stop him either.
"Be safe, now lets go get our girls" Adrian said breaking out into a run through the woods. We all followed only slowing down when the trees broke and an old house came into view.
RPOV
The door opening caused Lissa's story to end quickly. My eyes shifted away from her to see Adrian green eyes shining back at me his large hands holding a tiny bottle, still wearing the same smile he had since I woke up.
"What are you guys doing?" he asked raising an eyebrow at me and then Lissa.
"Nothing just talking" I said trying to smile at him, but he just keep looking between Lissa and I.
"About what?" he asked focusing his eyes solely on Lissa now.
"Oh you know this and that. Babies and weddings kind of thing" she lied but keep a straight face while she did it.
"You are lying, although you face does not show it which is quite impressive I can see it in your aura.
Lissa's face flushed and she stood up quickly. "I am going to let you guys feed this little monkey but I will come back later. I love you" she said leaning forward to give me an awkward hug since my hands were occupied. She then kissed Abigail's forehead before walking quickly past Adrian.
"So you want to tell me the truth about what you were talking about?" he asked sitting next to me handing me the warm bottle.
"If you promise not to get mad at Lissa I will" I said pulling the binkie out of Abigail's mouth she whimpered slightly before latching onto the bottle. I smiled as she went to work on emptying her bottle, she clearly had my appetite.
"Well by that statement I am sure I already know what she was talking about" he said his voice showing a slight hint of anger.
"Don't be mad at her she was only telling me what I asked" I said leaning my head over to lay on his shoulder. He moved his arm tucking Abigail and I under his arm pulling us toward his chest.
"I told you I would tell you when you were better" he said his voice gentle once again.
"I know but I need to know what happened all of it. I can handle it" I said pleading with him.
"How far did she get" he asked. I couldn't help but smile knowing he was about to cave.
"Up to the point when you guys arrived at the house" I said. I noticed his body tense and his hold on us tighten.
"Well she seemed to leave me all of the hard work then" he said.
The next chapter Adrian will go into detail about getting Rose back there are a few details that Lissa couldn't fill in so I will make sure Adrian gets those covered.