DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of the characters from ADJL. They belong to Disney. I do however own Rose and Jake's adopted daughter, Emily, along with the angel Joy and anyone else you don't recognize. If anyone would like to use any of these OC's, please ask my permission first.
Thanks!

God loves you
Enjoy!

"One Rose, Too Many Thorns"

Chapter 4-Lions and Tigers and Babies?

A week later, Rose was sitting in the doctor's office at Hope for the Children Medical Center. She was alone, courtesy of Jake who had agreed to watch Emily for her.

Rose hadn't really considered the possibility that she could be pregnant, but the events that followed the previous week were enough to convince her otherwise.

Rose hadn't been able to eat for four days straight. Everything she ate, came back up on her. She was also tired and very moody lately. She usually directed these mood swings at Jake and he took them in stride. He figured his girlfriend was under stress from taking care of Emily and returning back to school, so he let it go.

But as the days wore on and Rose's mood didn't improve, Jake started to become worried. He wasn't as worried about Rose's mood as he was about her not eating. He spent the night taking care of her when she felt too nauseous to move. But it was the event of her fainting yesterday that had prompted Jake to press Rose to make an appointment with a doctor.

He had recommended Jeanie Mathews, a doctor who had taken care of him and Haley for as long as he could remember.

Unfortunately, Jeanie was on vacation, so Dr. Susan Larkin was the one who was going to take care of Rose.

Rose wasn't as anxious about the appointment as much as she was anxious of the results. What if she was pregnant? What would that do to her relationship with Jake? What would it do to her mothering Emily? What would it do to her schooling? There were a lot of things to consider and Rose felt dizzy from thinking about it all.

Rose's thoughts were interrupted when the door to the exam room opened and a kind looking woman entered.

The woman had light brown hair and brown eyes.

"Hi." She greeted, a smile on her face. "You must be Rose Long." She consulted a chart.

Rose nodded, not feeling weird at all using Jake's last name. She had found it rather cute when Jake had suggested it and had decided that it was the best course of action.

"I'm Dr. Susan Larkin. You can call me Susan if you like. So what seems to be the problem?"

Rose sighed as she relayed her symptoms to the sympathetic and compassionate doctor before her.

"I think I might be pregnant," Rose finished, her voice shaking somewhat.

"Okay. Well, let's see if that's true. I'm going to do an ultra sound and then do some bloodwork. After that, we should know more. Does that sound okay?"

Rose nodded and passed both tests with flying colors. She was never fond of needles, but Dr. Larkin did it in such a way that Rose wasn't' even aware when the needle went in.

"There's only one other person in this whole hospital who can make needles not hurt," Susan told Rose. "And she's in Florida right now."

Rose nodded, having a feeling that Susan was referring to Jeanie.

"All right. I'll be right back." With that, Susan took the tests to the lab.

Left alone with her thoughts once again, Rose let them race. She was more afraid now that she had gotten the tests over with, more so than she had been when she had first arrived. Now the waiting game began. She wasn't very good at being patient, so this was killing her.

Rose was brought out of her thoughts by her cell phone ringing. Jake's mother had put her on their plan and Rose was able to get a cell phone of her own.

"Hello?" Rose asked, her voice shaking a little bit. She was relieved that the Huntsman wasn't able to track her via the phone. Her number was confidential and only six people knew what it was. Well, five people and a talking six hundred year old Sharpei, but the point was, her phone number was safe with her new family.

"Hi Mommy!" Came Emily's cheerful voice. "Daddy and me are at the zoo! We saw tigers and polar bears!"

"Hi baby. How are you?" Rose asked, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders upon hearing her baby girls' voice. She loved Emily to pieces and it thrilled her whenever Emily was happy.

"Good! We're having fun! Daddy boughted you something, but I can't tell you what it is 'cause it's a surprise!"

Rose smiled. Jake was so thoughtful.

"Can I talk to him?" She asked, suddenly needing to hear Jake's voice.

"Okay! I love you Mommy!"

"Aw, I love you too, sweetie."

A few seconds later, Rose heard the familiar sound of Jake's voice say, "Yo, what's up, baby?"

Rose giggled, despite her anxiety over what was to come.

"You know you wasted your money." Rose said, her tone hinting at a giggle.

"What do you mean?" Jake asked. "I didn't buy Emily any sweets. We just had a water ice and I bought her a stuffed tiger and I Got you something too. And the admission for her was free. I only had to pay five dollars for myself."

"I meant if you wanted to take her to the zoo, you could have just waited for one of your mother's family reunions."

Jake chuckled.

"Ooh, Rose, you're bad!"

"I know, but you still love me, don't you, dragon boy?" Rose's tone was that of Huntsgirl, but it held no evil in it whatsoever. Just plain seduction and passion for the dragon she loved with all her heart.

"Always, my Rosebud. Always."

"Oh, so we're using permanent nicknames now are we, dragon boy?" Rose asked, in her usual tone.

Jake laughed.

"Well you started it!" He accused, his tone whiny and childish.

Emily giggled. She loved it when her Daddy acted silly.

"What are you laughing at, Miss Emily?" Jake asked, patting her shoulder gently.

"You!" Emily replied, truthfully. "You're silly!"

Rose laughed as well. She enjoyed hearing Emily giggle and if she were there, she knew she would be laughing right along with her daughter.

"Em took the words right out of my mouth." Rose said, her laughter dying down somewhat.

Just then, the door opened and Dr. Larkin walked back in. She was about to say something, but stopped when she saw Rose was on the phone.

"Jake, I gotta go," Rose told him. "I love you both and I'll see you when I get home."

"Okay. Love you too, my Rosebud."

"Love you Mommy!" Emily called before Jake hung up.

"Aw, love you too, sweetheart. Be good for Daddy, okay?" Rose answered, before she too hung up.

After hanging up the phone, Rose took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come.

"What did you find?" Rose asked, looking at Susan expectantly.

Susan took a deep breath before answering Rose's question.

"It appears that you are pregnant."

Rose's breath caught in her throat and she felt as though she were going to faint. She had a feeling that she might be pregnant, but to hear Dr. Larkin say it aloud, made the possibility all the more real and frightening to the young teen.

Rose knew that Jake would help her and support her one hundred percent. There was no doubt about that. Rose wasn't worried about that for an instant. The one thing that worried Rose the most was if the baby would be marked. And if so, would she be able to keep her? What if the Huntsman took her away, just like he had taken she, Rose away? Rose couldn't imagine losing her baby that way.

"Rose?" Dr. Larkin asked, not sure if Rose was okay. "Rose, are you okay, sweetie?"

Rose nodded, even though it was a bold faced lie. She was far from okay.

"Do you want me to call Jake to pick you up?"

Rose shook her head. She needed some fresh air and a walk would do her good.

"No thanks. Can you tell what it is?" She asked, referring to the baby.

Susan shook her head.

"Not for at least another two to three weeks. You'll need to make another appointment for that. But I'm sure we'll be able to tell in the next two to three weeks."

Rose nodded. She just prayed that was all Dr. Larkin would see. She didn't think the mark would be visible at that point, but she was afraid of something else being visible. And that had to do with Jake's side of the family.

"Thanks for everything," Rose said, giving Susan a weak smile. "I'm gonna get going."

"Are you sure I can't call a cab for you or call Jake?" Susan asked. She wasn't comfortable with Rose leaving on her own, but she couldn't do anything about it. Especially if Rose didn't' want any help.

Rose shook her head.

"No. That's okay."

Susan nodded, the uneasy feeling still in the pit of her stomach.

As Rose left the hospital, the morning sun hit her full in the face. She smiled at it, welcoming its warmth and basking in the comfort it provided for her. She needed a distraction from her problems and she decided people watching would do her some good.

Rose walked to the center of New York and used her Huntsgirl skills to reach her destination. She sat upon the empire state building and let her thoughts wander. She was scared, anxious and a little happy all at the same time. She wasn't sure what emotion to feel first, and it seemd her heart didn't know either.

As Rose made her way back to the house, two hours later, she prayed and hoped that Jake would understand when she told him. A part of Rose didn't want to tell Jake yet, but she knew she had to. She didn't want him worrying about her and she also didn't want Emily thinking something was fatally wrong with her.

Rose wasn't even aware where her feet were carrying her, that is until she felt herself being pulled backwards. A pair of arms pulled her into a nearby alley. She was jolted out of her thoughts as the person put a hand over her mouth, preventing her from crying out.

"None of that, baby," the voice told her. It sounded familiar, although Rose couldn't place it right then. "I'm finally going to have what I want and what I deserve."

'That's what you think.' Rose thought as a plan formed in her mind.

Rose kicked out with all her might, trying to use her Huntsgirl training to her advantage. She managed to throw the person off balance. Once he was on the ground, Rose used the oppurtunity to see who it was. She stared down into the eyes of someone she hated with all her being. A person who she despised and never wanted to see again.

"I can't believe you." She said, not even bothering to waste anymore time on this particular person. She gave him one good punch before sprinting down the street. She looked back only once. Satisfied that her attacker hadn't followed her, she made it back to the house in five minutes flat.

Rose barely had time to enter the house before a small figure launched itself at her.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! You're home! You're home! You're home!" Emily squealed, her arms wrapping around Rose's neck the moment her mother picked her up for a hug.

"Aw, it's good to see you too, Em. Is Daddy around?"

Emily nodded as she rested her head on Rose's shoulder.

"I missed you, Mommy!" Emily said, her voice full of joy to see her mother.

"Aw, I missed you too. Did you and Daddy have fun?"

Emily nodded.

"Yup. He's making dinner."

Rose followed the smell of ravioli and meatballs to the kitchen. She set Emily down and snuck up behind Jake.

"Hey, dragon boy." She said, her voice low and that of Huntsgirl. "Miss me?"

Emily had gone into the dining room to color, so she didn't hear the conversation between her parents.

Jake nearly dropped the spoon he was using to stirr the sauce with as he felt Rose wrap her arms around him, landing a kiss on his cheek before she flicked his left ear playfully.

"What if I said yes?" Jake said, turning around and giving Rose a hug before planting a kiss on her lips.

Rose deepened the kiss before laying her head on Jake's shoulder.

"Then I would say good answer." Rose said, in her normal tone. "Dinner smells good. I just hope I can eat it."

Jake nodded and his expression turned to worry as he gazed into Rose's oceanic orbs.

"What did Dr. Larkin say?" He asked, his eyes searching Rose's for an answer.

"Not here," Rose said, a finality note to her voice that Jake knew only too well.

"Okay." Jake replied. He and Rose went upstairs, leaving Emily coloring at the dining room table.

When Rose and Jake arrived in their bedroom, they sat down on the bed and Jake took Rose into his arms.

"What is it?" Jake asked, planting a kiss on Rose's head.

"What's wrong, honey?"

Rose sighed as she took a deep breath. She dug down deep inside and found the courage she needed to tell Jake the truth.

"Jake, I…I…I'm…" Rose's voice trailed off. She was letting her fear get the better of her. If she did that, she wouldn't be able to tell him at all.

"Rosebud, what is it?" Jake asked, using his nickname for her once again. He hoped she didn't mind.

Rose smiled upon hearing it and gave Jake's hand a squeeze.

"Jake, I…I…I'm pregnant."

Jake's jaw about hit the ground. When he recovered himself, he said the only thing that came to mind.

"Say what!"

Rose giggled at his reaction. Her Jake would never change and for that, she was grateful.

"I'm pregnant. Dr. Larkin did the tests and she confirmed it."

Jake nodded, a smile slowly making its way across his face. He was going to be a father again. And this time, it was he and Rose's child. Not that he didn't' consider Emily his own, but he was now going to enjoy having a child with the woman he loved.

"Did Dr. Larkin say what it was?" Jake asked, his voice conveying the excitement and fear he was feeling. His feelings mirrored Rose's own.

Rose shook her head.

"Not yet. She said to come back within the next two weeks. I made an appointment with Maria for next week. I'm still seeing Susan though."

Jake nodded. He gave Rose a kiss and wrapped his arms around her.

"You're not mad?" Rose asked, laying her head on Jake's shoulder as he hugged her close, kissing her again.

"Mad? What the? Are you kidding me? I love you and I love our children. Why would you think I would be mad at you?"

Rose shrugged as she tightened her grip.

"I didn't tell you when I first suspected anything."

"Forget that," Jake said, tossing her comment aside. "You told me when you found out. And that's all that matters. I love you Rose." With that, Jake gave Rose a kiss that seemed to last forever. It didn't' quite last forever, but it did last for fifteen minutes.