Wow it has been a while and I just want to apologize for that. As many of you may know from prior postings I am in nursing school and working at the same time so my days are no longer mine. A few people have sent me e-mails asking if I was going to finish this story and I have every intention of finishing it, but after 32 chapters I don't want to rush into putting another chapter out because people ask especially if the chapter sucks and is something that takes away from the story as a whole b/c I was in a rush to get something out there. I sat down tonight with my two 2 year old nephews attached at the hip and started to write. When you are inspired it is amazing what you can come up with and when you have no inspiration you can barely write your name and feel good about it. So I hope you enjoy the chapter. Comments are welcome. Thanks for reading.
I do not own any of these characters, they are owned by Richelle Mead
The light coming through the window pulled me from my sleep, not that it was a restful sleep. I haven't had that since before I was changed. My heart sped up realizing that I was no longer the thing I had despised for so long, but that brought me no comfort. I had done awful things and no matter what I was now I could not undo what I had done. Yet those memories still haunted my dreams when I actually forced myself to sleep or when I was given enough medication to knock me out. Although the memories were worse when I slept, when I couldn't command my brain to focus on something else they still found their way into my brain forcing me to relive them even when I was awake. I was starting to get use to them flooding my mind every second of every day. Grumbling to myself I sat up on the side of the bed wishing that the sun that now lit my room still had the power it had just a week ago, that one sun ray would cause this miserable existence my mother keep insisting I be thankful for end.
"You're awake" my mother said coming into the room sitting next to me on the bed.
She was one of the only reasons I was still around. I saw the pain in her eyes and the relief that flooded them when she realized that I was not only alive, but I was no longer a Strigoi.
"Yeah I just woke up" I said tensing up when she wrapped her arms around me whispering how glad she was that I was back and healthy. I knew what I should be doing, wrapping my arms around her and telling her that I loved her too and was happy to be back. Saying the words would be the easy part, but they would not be true and she knew me well enough to know when I was lying. So instead I sat there as I had done many times before in the last five days letting her hug the son that she thought I still was.
"Do you want me to make you something to eat? Your sister just ran out to visit Ro" she said stopping before she could fully finish her sentence. "She ran out for a little while" she said trying to smile and apparently hoping that I didn't realize that she was well on her way to saying my sister was out visiting Rose.
My heart ached, my breath caught in my throat just thinking about her. "How is she?" I asked before I could stop myself. The first two days I was back at Court I had been locked away for the safety of everyone around me, when they realized that I was harmless and had no intention on hurting anyone or escaping they started running test after test on me to see what I was. I had spent so much time in the sun the last three days that my skin was a shade or two darker. Last night was when they finally released me from the jail cell they had held me in until they realized I was no longer evil. Even if they didn't think I was, I knew what I was and what I had done and there was no other way to explain evil without listing a majority of things I had done with a smile on my face.
My question apparently caught my mother off guard because she froze and gave me a sympathetic look. "Well from what I hear she is doing ok. She just woke up yesterday and they were only allowing a few people in to see her. I was going to go with your sister, but I heard you waking up and wanted to see if you needed anything before I left" she said placing a hand on mine in a comforting motherly touch.
"Do you think that it is a good idea to see her?" I asked looking at the wall not wanting to see my mother's face. I know Rose had every right to hate me after what I had done and I knew she would be fair to my family and not blame them for what I had done but the resemblance we all shared would only cause her to think of me and what I had done to her and their baby.
"Dimitri she loves you and will forgive you. We all know that there was nothing you could do after you were changed. Nobody blames you for what happened" she said tightening her grip on my hand.
Yanking my hands free I stood trying to get away from her and her naïve thinking. "She loved me, she no longer does and I don't blame her for that. After what I did to her to her baby, I hate myself she has every right to feel the same. You should go so I can take a shower, I will see you later" I said walking out of the room into the hall. I couldn't get out of the room fast enough. I know my mom was trying to help me, but I felt my chest constrict, as my heart raced when she spoke of Rose's love for me.
Closing the door to the bathroom I quickly turned the water on and stripped out of my clothes. The water was streaming, but I couldn't feel the pain because the only pain that was registering was my heart ripping apart. I let the scolding water run down my face wishing it could wash away all the pain and anger I felt, but most of all I wish that it could take away the pain that ached in my chest knowing that I had lost the love of my life forever. The tears that streamed down my face washed away as quickly as they fell. My legs buckled dropping me to my knees as I let the sobs rock through my body.
Rose POV
I felt the bed shift and then Adrian's voice. Although he is attempting to be quiet he was failing miserably. Slowly I opened one eye and let it adjust to the light and then opened the second, what I saw took my breath away. Adrian was sitting in a rocking chair with a pink bundle in his arms singing a nursery rhyme.
"Hey" I said stretching my body as I sat up.
"Morning sleeping beauty" he said smiling over at me.
"How is our baby girl?" I asked throwing my feet to the side of the bed to get up.
"Perfect" he said his eyes shifting from me to the tiny pink bundle snuggled in his chest.
"What about the love of my life? You must be exhausted" I said leaning down until my lips were so close to his I could feel the warm air that escaped his lips every time he exhaled.
"I would be a lot better if you moved your lips about an inch"
"Oh sorry am I to close" I teased moving further away from his lips.
"No" he protested "you are going the wrong way."
Leaning forward our lips connected and it was like the world stopped. I could never get enough of him and knew that there would never be a time that I wouldn't need him. It was a kiss that could last forever and I am sure that it would, that was until Abigail decided to make her presence known.
I drew back first trying not to laugh when Adrian moaned and refused to open his eyes.
"Aww baby don't cry mommy's here" I said lifting her up cradling her in my arms.
Adrian pulled my night shirt until I was standing in front of him.
"Adrian I am to big to be sitting on your lap and I think she is hungry" I protested.
"You are not to big and I already have her bottle ready, so sit down please."
After he gave me the puppy eyes I sat down and settled Abigail in my arms to feed her. "How did I get so lucky to have you in my life and then she came along and made everything perfect" I said looking down at our beautiful baby as she sucked easily on the bottle allowing her eyes to flutter open and shut until she settled on keeping them closed. I was a little disappointed because her eyes were beautiful just like here daddy's.
"I ask myself that everyday" he said trying to stifle a yawn.
"Why don't you lay down and please don't argue with me. I know you are tired and you will be no use to us if you don't sleep" I said using my thumb to run across the dark circles that had formed under his eyes.
"Alright but don't let me sleep longer than a few hours and wake me up if you need me" he said shifting his body before pushing himself forward into a standing position with Abigail and me cradled in his arms. I let out a yelp surprised by his movement. Abigail's eyes fluttered open she appeared to scan the room before letting out a mirror shattering cry. Adrian set me on my feet giving me an apologetic smile.
"It's ok sweet pea, daddy just wanted to show off all the muscles he got trying to keep up with mommy's work out routine" I said kissing her forehead. Her crying ended as quickly as it had started.
Adrian stood behind me his arms wrapping around my lower abdomen so it seemed we were both holding Abigail in our arms. His lips made a trail of kisses up my neck until he stopped at my ear. "I don't need to sleep right now I can stay up if you want me to" he said nuzzling my neck giving me time to think about it.
I stood there closing my eyes loving the comfort I got from his touch. "You need your sleep, we will be fine" I said turning my head until my lips found what they were looking for.
"I asked the nurses up front to keep all the visitors away until after eleven so you could sleep. Now that you are up and kicking me out do you want me to tell them you are open for company?"
"Yeah, although I am not sure a few nurses at the front desk could keep Lissa or my dad away" I said thinking that they must of needed the sleep too because it was going on ten and no one had even called.
"Promise me that you won't go off hounding people about what happened" he said.
"Rose" he murmured slowly turning my body toward his. His eyes were heavy from the lack of sleep, but I could tell until I made this promise even if he laid down he wouldn't get any sleep thinking I was off playing detective.
"Alright I promise I won't hound people" I whispered kissing him softly and telling him to get some rest. I never intended on hounding anyone, so in my eyes I didn't feel like I was breaking the promise if I just asked around. Although I do believe Adrian would think differently.
I insisted he go back to the apartment and rest because he wouldn't get any sleep with Abigail and I in the room. He protested but eventually gave in and made his way to the door after kissing me and Abigail another hundred or so times and telling me how much he loved me.
"Rose I know you and I know how much you want to know what happened, but please don't go running off trying to figure things out. I almost lost you once and if I am ever going to get any sleep I have to trust you when you say you will leave this alone until I tell you" he said hesitating at the door.
The look on his face brought tears to my eyes. I didn't only see the lack of sleep, but the look of a man that almost lost everything he considered important in his life. Abigail was fast asleep, I gently laid her down in the bassinet and walked towards the door.
His eyes glistened from the tears that they refused to allow escape. "I am so sorry" I said wrapping my arms around him. "I am so sorry for putting you through this, for being so careless that it almost cost us our perfect baby, I am so sorry for everything" I sobbed in his shoulder. My body shook at the sobs escaped.
His arms tightened around my body. "Don't, this is not your fault, please baby don't cry and never blame yourself for any of this" he said lifting my body in his arms. He sat on the edge of the bed my body tucked into his until the sobs slowly eased and my eyes dried. I felt his body shift slightly, his nose grazing my jaw line up to my ear "Rose" he whispered afraid that I might break down again. "Baby I never blamed you for what happened and nobody else does either. Abigail and you mean the world to me and I thank God every day that you are both are safe, healthy and mine. This whole situation was awful and there was indication that Dimitri was still around" his voice hardening briefly as he said Dimitri's name but quickly changed back to the soft gentle tone that it had been. "In the end it worked out" he said lifting my face in his hands until our eyes met. His finger wiped the lone tear that had escaped my eyes.
"I love you and can't wait to call you my husband because fiancé doesn't fit anymore" I said laying my forehead against his.
"Some how I fall in love with you more each day" he said unable to stop the yawn that followed his words.
"Go get some sleep, I promise Abigail and I will stay here until you get back. Hopefully by then they will release us and we can go home with you. I miss our bed."
"Do you miss our bed or what we do in our bed" he asked giving me his trademark smirk.
My face blushed which is surprising after everything we have gone through together he can still make me blush just by making a comment about sex. "If I was talking about our sex life I would of said how much I missed our walk in closest, our shower, the living room couch, my recliner, and about a hundred other places" I said smiling when I felt his reaction. "I am happy I can still get a reaction out of you" I said wiggling my butt lightly.
Before I knew what was happening I was on my back and Adrian was hovering over me. "It is not nice to tease me" he grumbled slowly easing his body until I could feel his body on mine. He was careful to balance his weight so I wasn't baring any of it. The tired look in his eyes had disappeared and lust and excitement had taken its place.
"I know there are a few things they don't recommend for a few weeks after the baby, but I am sure we can figure something out that might hold us over until then" I said running my hand in between us allowing it to slide up his shirt. I moved my hands slowly allowing them to get reacquainted with his body. They slide over the muscles that had definitely grown since the first time I was with him until I reached his neck. Adrian shifted his body allowing me to pull the shirt over his head. The whole time his eyes didn't leave mine.
"Have I told you how much I love you?" he asked rocking back onto the heals of his feet. He peered down at me before sliding his hands into my shirt. His finger tips danced over my rib cage and tickled the sides of my breast as he breezed by them until he was pulling my shirt above my head.
"You have, but it still makes my heart race every time you say it so please don't ever stop" I moaned as his lips came down kissing my stomach softly.
"Is this ok?" he asked kissing his way up my chest.
"More than ok, but I believe we need to change positions" I said before moaning again as he ran his hands back down my sides.
"Why am I hurting you?" he asked suddenly alarmed.
"No but I am suppose to be helping tie you over until we can do something a little more active" I said knocking his arms that were holding his weight off me out from under him and shifting my weight quickly until I was hovering over him. "Now this works a little better" I said running my fingers down his chest until I reached the line of his shorts. Adrian's face light up, until the knock brought up back into reality and the fact that although the room's set up was not like most clinic rooms this was in fact still a clinic room.
"Hang on" Adrian called out. I rolled off of him grabbing my shirt sliding it over my head and throwing him his that was hanging off the side of the bed.
"Thanks" he said smiling as he stood slipping the shirt on over his head. He walked to the door pulling it open revealing Dr. Olendzki.
"How are my favorite patients?" she asked walking in.
"Good, feeling a lot better" I said smiling.
"They are both doing wonderful, although Rose had mentioned she was a little hot" Adrian said his voice full of concern as he spoke to the doctor.
My mouth dropped, Dr. Olendzki turned away from Adrian and looked at me.
"How hot are you feeling Rose" Dr. Olendzki asked her voice full of concern although her concern was real unlike Adrian's.
My eyes shifted away from the doctor and founding Adrian who was smiling brightly and winked.
"Oh I am fine, I just told Adrian the room was hot. He is just over reacting" I said hoping the doctor didn't see the scowl I was giving Adrian.
"Well good, how did Abigail do last night?" she asked walking to the bassinet. She bent forward removing the blanket and placing her stethoscope on Abigail's chest.
"She ate really well and slept for most of the night" Adrian said sounding like a proud dad.
"Well she sounds really good, I am going to do a quick exam on you Rose and if everything is ok then you two can go home today" she said wrapping Abigail back into the blanket.
"Are you serious?" I shrieked in excitement.
"Yes" Dr. Olendzki said laughing as she walked around the bed to stand in front of me before attaching me to a blood pressure cuff, asking me if I was having any pain, flashing a light in my eyes, asking me to walk across the room, listening to my chest, stomach, and back with her stethoscope.
"Well Rose you seem well on your way to a full recovery. I want to get a few more lab test before you go and just make sure everything is back to normal, but once we draw the blood you can go and I will call you with the results."
"You are sure everything is ok?" Adrian asked a small crease appearing between his eyes, something he got whenever he was worried about something.
"Adrian I feel fine and I am ready to go home with my family" I said stepping in front of him.
"Are you sure?" he practically whispered.
"Yes" I stated knowing I had seen the inside on this clinic for far to long.
"Alright, I need to go get the car seat that is at the apartment. I will be back by the time you are done with the labs" he said kissing my nose, walking to the bassinet kissing Abigail's forehead, and shaking the doctor's hand before running out the door.
"How are you really feeling?" she asked as the door shut.
"Like I said really good" I said stretching my body, showing her that my body was really healing quickly.
"Rose I have no doubt you are healing perfectly well physically, but how are you dealing with everything else?" she said stepping forward placing her hand on my forearm.
"I am doing ok, it is hard because Adrian doesn't want to tell me everything. He thinks that I have enough to deal with and that the other stuff can wait until I can process everything else first" I said.
"He cares about you and in this case I think he is right. Your body is not the only thing that went through a rough and stressful situation, you need to give your brain time to process what you know so far before you starting adding to it" she said smiling even though she was technically taking Adrian's side over mine. Although after earlier I couldn't even attempt to rationalize going behind Adrian's back to get information about what happened no matter how curious I was.
"I know he made me see that clearly" I said smiling.
Dr. Olendzki left telling me someone would return to draw the labs in the next twenty minutes and I could get dressed. Adrian had packed a bag that was full of clothes that would last me a week on vacation if I wanted to change my outfit twice a day. In another bag it was full of baby clothes, apparently he didn't know what to bring so he packed half of the closet. I slid on a pair of maternity pants I had bought early on in my pregnancy so they weren't huge. I wasn't sure if my old pants would fit and I wasn't in the mood to try it out when someone was going to be coming back in the next twenty minutes. The last thing I wanted was a stranger walking in to take my blood only to find me laying flat on the bed attempting to get my pants to buckle. Abigail was still asleep and I was putting off getting her dressed until after they took the blood, I didn't want her waking up and being cranky while someone stuck a needle in my arm.
I had just sat down on the bed to put my shoes on when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in" I said loud enough for them to hear me but hopefully not to loud to wake the baby up.
Raising my eyes my heart came to a halt and I felt my head spin.
"Roza are you ok?"