The room smelled delicious. All the different aromas floating through the air only made me hungrier than I already was. Seeing all the dishes made me feel greedy. Because I was getting that little voice in my head about sharing. And i wasn't quiet agreeing with it. But the best part was seeing Christian in an apron. I'm guessing it was his due to the pastel blue colors, ruffles, and flower pockets. He gave a me a blank stare as I stifled a laugh.

"If I hear one little giggle out of you then you are not allowed to eat the meal I've prepared," he untied the big blue bow and pulled it off over his head. "And I've made some pretty amazing food tonight."

I smiled as innocently as I could manage, "Wouldn't even dream about laughing at you. Especially not on an empty stomach."

He gave me a snarky grin, "I guessed as much. Not with your appetite anyways."

"Oh, ha ha ha. Good one. Do you want a high five?" I rose my hand in the air.

He chuckled, "No, person-who-still-high-fives."

Mia groaned, "When do we get to the part where we sit down and actually eat?"

"Let's do that now, shall we?" Liss took a seat at the end of the table. She looked so elegant as she seemed to softly float down into her chair and place her napkin gently on her lap. Every little thing seemed so graceful. It suited her. "Everyone, please," she gestured for us all to take our seats. "Christian and I have an announcement to make."

He took her hand as he sat beside her, "It's a boy."

It took me a while to click but then it hit me. "You're having a boy?!" I dropped down into my chair a little harder than I expected. The chairs legs scratched the floor lightly as it skid back from my abrupt descent.

Her smile brightened, "Yes! We just found out."

The atmosphere blew up with congratulations and cheers as we toasted to the happy couple. Soon they would be married, then parents, and our children would be playing together. It was a beautiful thing to think about in such sad times.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" Surprisingly it was Sydney that asked.

Liss gave her a sweet smiled, "We've thought of a few."

"Aiden is my favorite right now. Has a nice ring to it. Aiden Ozera," he glided his hand in the air like he could highlight the name.

I envied them a little. I was just so impatient. I wanted to know what I was having. I wanted to settle on a name for my baby already too. And Aiden was a really nice name. But then I wondered, "Who came up with it?"

Liss blushed, "I did. It took me a while but once I saw it I just couldn't get it off my mind."

"It's a perfect name. Especially for your child", Sydney said so matter-of-factly.

Christian frowned, "Why do you say that?"

She looked down sheepishly, "Well, the meaning of Aiden. It means fiery. And aren't you a Fire user?"

It was news to me. We all looked from face to face in amusement and amazement. "That's pretty awesome. Did you all know that?"

Liss shook her head, "I didn't know that. It is pretty awesome. What a coincidence."

"No wonder I love that name", Christian chuckled. "You're smart. How'd you know that?"

Sydney shrugged, "I don't know."

"She reads... alot," Adrian said as he took her hand in his and kissed the back of her fingers. It was so sweet to see them like that. It made my sweet tooth ache.

Eddie was already taking off the lid from one of the platters, "She is Alchemist. They know everything."

She looked like she was getting really red, "Not everything. And not all Alchemists are that bright." That was the truth.

"Sydney, however, likes to use her brain outside of the Alchemist coven," Adrian said as he eyed Eddie.

He took the hint, "I'd have to agree. She's definitely alot smarter than anyone I know."

"I'm surprised that your head's not bigger. Your brain but be suffering from lack of room to hold all that information," Christian teased.

She looked like she was growing smaller and might just get sucked into a black hole created in the center of herself. Her face was bright red now and it made the golden lily on her cheek stand out even more. "I'm not that smart."

"Come on, guys. Stop teasing her," I said as I took a slice of steak off the platter Eddie had revealed. It smelled delectable.

"Aw, she knows we're just playing," Mia smiled at her.

But Sydney seemed relieved at my interuption. Although she was still red she seemed to be less tucked away now. She gave me a nod and mouthed 'thanks' to me. I just nodded in reply. She was probably already uncomfortable in this setting to begin with but having vampires and dhampirs pick on her? Even if it was just them playing around, it seemed to make her extremely uncomfortable. And yet Adrian kept a hold of her hand. He was rubbing his thumb over her fingers softly trying to soothe her tension.

We all turned our attention to the food. I piled some puffy looking mashed potatoes onto my plate beside the steak. There were plates with corn, greenbeans, chicken and asparagus salad, and what looked like pudding. That was in a big bowl lined with fresh sliced fruit. Most likely dessert.

I was scarfing down the food so fast that a few times I thought I might choke. But a quick, rough pat to the chest cleared that problem up fast. Dimitri had been so quiet this whole time. Which, let's face it, was relatively normal around other people. He only spoke when he had to or when he was addressed. Other than that he kept to himself. It was a whole other story when it was just us. Those were my favorite moments.

"So, when are you going in to see what you're having", Mia asked as she shoveled in a spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth.

I shrugged and swallowed my food before speaking, "I am a few weeks behind Liss so it probably won't be for at least a couple of weeks."

She made a sour face, "Too bad. I really want to know what you're having too. So we can throw a double baby shower. Wouldn't that just be cute?"

Liss lit up, "That sounds like a fantastic idea! Once Rose finds out what the baby is then we'll start planning."

"Do guys have to go?" Christian slowly lowered his fork to his plate.

Eddie laughed, "Those are called Pamper Parties."

"Why don't we all just throw it together?" Mia asked defiantly.

Eddie turned his attention back to his food, "Or we could do that."

Adrian laughed, "You changed your mind pretty fast."

He shrugged, "Mia made a good point."

"What point? She just suggested we all throw the shower and pamper party together," I gave Eddie a knowing smile.

He sighed, "Well, it was a good idea." He started playing with the food on his plate.

"Aw, thank you, Eddie," Mia brushed her shoulder against his and he seemed to blush.

Liss clapped her excitedly, "So we are throwing it all together then?"

"Sure, why not?" Christian said. He scooped up her hand and pressed his lips on her palm. She cupped his cheek and he rested his head there in content. It was a loving sight.

Dimitri's hand slipped over mine and he gently sqeezed my fingers. I looked up at him and those gorgeous brown eyes. He was staring down at me with admiration. I could feel his stare sinking into my skin. It felt good to be looked at like that. I felt comepletely loved.

Dinner was over before we knew it. Adrian and Sydney were the first to head out. Mia and Eddie were next. Eddie seemed a bit reluctant to leave us all to the cleaning. In the end he decided to follow behind Mia. Dimitri and I wanted to stay to help more but Liss and Christian insisted that we go get some rest. "Tomorrow's a big day."

The hall was dark and warm as we slipped out after saying our goodbyes and goodnights. He wrapped an arm around my waist and led me with him to our room door. He turned me in his arms and opened the door. He was still holding my waist as he shut the door by leaning on it. We hadn't bothered with the lights but there was enough sun seeping through the curtains that I could still see. Thank you Dhampir enhanced senses.

He pulled me against him as he stayed leaning on the door. My body pressed against his causing the lines of our bodies to align perfectly. He ran one hand through my hair and gripped it just at the base of my neck. He tugged my hair lightly so that my face inched closer to his. I felt his lips brush softly over mine and electricity coursed through me. I felt my pulse rise and heartbeat speed up. All I could think about was the feel of his lips. I could feel the cupid bow shape they took and the soft texture. I pressed forward but I couldn't move. He still had my hair in his hand which meant if I tried to get closer it would hurt my head but the want was causing me to ache in... other places.

His lips curved into a smile as he slowly loosened and let me get closer. I felt his lips part as my own softly slipped and connected between his. A moan escaped my mouth as he pulled me against him with that one arm still wrapped around my waist and his other tangled in the waves of my hair. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him harder against me. The kiss intensified. And I was in heaven.

We didn't bother taking it to the bedroom. Why would we when we had a perfectly good couch just a few feet away? And everything had been bumped up to an extremely passionate level. It was practically oozing from us as I pressed him back into the couch cushions. Our clothes were no obsticle at all. In a few quick motions we were stripped down to nothing. I ran my hand over his chest, tracing the shape of his scar. He took my hand and pressed it down over it. I could feel his heart thudding beneath my palm. He encircled his arms around my body and pulled me to him. Sweat was making him sticky and slippery. His mouth was warm and sweet. The feel of how firm his hands were on my back was so contrary to the feel of his fingers gently gliding up my ribs or the curves of my thighs. Every touch varied but each felt so perfect.

And then we laid there. In complete bliss. Tangled in one another's arms. I nuzzled up against him and his skin smelled of sweat and soap. I felt my eyes getting heavy but I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to stay awake like this. Wrapped up all in him. I traced the cuts his muscles made on his abs and v-line. His skin was so smooth for a man who had been through hell and back. In my mind, someone like that would be made of tough skin. No, not my Dimitri. He had that way of making the impossible possible for me. He was the best of everything. My everything.

I felt him shift and a heavy breath sounded from his lips. He's asleep. I slowly manuvered my body so that I could look up at his face. His eyes were shut and his lips were slightly parted. From my angle it almost looked like he had a smile on his face. Maybe he was smiling. His hand slid over my stomach and stayed there. My little bump had grown significantly. I should go to see Sonia soon for a check up.

Finally, after some time passed as I gazed at my dreamy Russian, I let sleep's darkness take me. It seemed to come quickly. I could remember closing my eyes but I couldn't quite say when the world of dreams sucked me up. Because before I knew it I was walking among the peonies. Staring off into the distance at that gorgeous waterfall. I smiled to myself and sigh.

"A little late to be making calls, don't you think?" I looked around for the man responsible.

He laughed but I still couldn't see him, "I just couldn't help myself. Habit, I suppose."

I rolled my eyes, "Yea, I suppose. So what do you want to talk about today?"

"I don't really know. I didn't really have a plan when I called you", he made a chuckle but it sounded unsure.

I peered around, still trying to find him, "Is everything alright?"

He sighed aloud, "It's more than alright. Everything is going great. Sydney is just an amazing girl... woman, whatever. She's just so, I don't know."

I laughed out, "That's great. I'm glad it's all working out." I kept looking around and walking. Where is he?

"This way, Rose." He was in my head again. I turned towards where my gut instinct indicated. Was it my gut or him?

"You know I'm not a big fan of games," I said.

He chuckled but now I couldn't tell if it was all in my head or if he actually chuckled. "It's like hide and go seek. You ever played it as a kid?"

I shook my head, "A few times at school, maybe. But growing up knowing I'm going to be a Guardian kind up took up my time."

"Shame. Well, there's no time like the present to catch up!" he yelled out the last part and it sounded like his voice faded into an echo. "You're getting warmer."

I stopped walking and stomped my foot, "Adrian! Enough! I don't want to play games. I want to relax and sleep."

"Ooh, sounds like someone's starting to get those pregnancy mood swings," his voice was so close now.

I scoffed, "Am not!" Or maybe I was. I hadn't noticed the sudden change in my mood. I'm pretty sure I was happy when I got here. But now, now I felt irritated. For no real reason except that I couldn't find Adrian.

Then a hand shot up from the tall grass. He waved to me, "Fine. I'm here. Happy now?"

I walked over and looked down at him. His hair was in it's normal stylized mess and his eyes were so green. The green of the grass was most likely helping to enhance that particular feature. "I don't know. What does my aura show?"

He tilted his head and squinted at me, "I guess a little upset. But happy considering."

"Scoot over," I nudged him over with my foot and laid beside him in the grass. It was so soft. Like a cushion. "I'm nervous."

He turned his head to look at me, "About what?"

I shrugged, "About finding out what the baby is. If it's a girl or a boy. It's all exciting but nerve wracking. And then I keep thinking, will I be a good mom to this baby? It's a big deal. I'm a Guardian. I love my job but I don't want to abandon this baby. Not like how I was abandoned..." I rolled over to my side, away from his gaze. I felt tears threatening to sting my eyes. My emotions are all over the place.

"You're going to be fine, Rose. We're all here for you too. Liss and Christian could help out since your kids are probably always going to be around each other. And I wouldn't mind watching the little guy either. That's if you'd trust me to babysit."

We both laughed at that last part. "You think it's a boy?"

He sighed, "If I had to guess, yes. I think it's a boy." He chuckled, "But don't take that as it being a boy. There's a fifty percent chance I could be wrong."

"Adrian Ivashkov wrong?" I scoffed, "I never thought I'd live to see the day."

"That day isn't here yet, Little Dhampir. I could be right," he tugged on my shoulder and rolled me so that I was laying on my back again.

I looked over at him, "And I have to think up a name once I find out what the baby is." I sighed, "Can't babies just come with some kind of manual or guide."

He laughed, "Wouldn't that be easy. I wonder if my name would have still been Adrian."

"I know I wouldn't have been Rosemarie," I shudder at the sound of my whole name.

"No, I think you look like a Rose," he smirked at me.

I eyes him, "I don't know. I think I feel more like a hard name."

"Something exotic?"

"Exactly!" He was catching on quick.

He smiled, "Like what?"

I shrugged and stammered, "I... I don't know. I'm just saying, it certainly wouldn't have been the one I ended up with."

That made him laugh again, "Little Dhampir, you're still that little ray of sunshine."

"Aren't I just?" I laughed out the words.

We just laid there together in silence after that. Neither moving nor attempting to say a word. Content just to be in each other's presence. And I was happy to be there with him. Over time he had become a great asset and a wonderful friend. I was there to see him off to his new romance, as difficult as that was to start. I could honestly say that, aside from Liss, he was my best friend. I turned to look at him. He must have noticed because he turned to face me too.

"What is it?" he grinned.

I smiled, "It's just crazy how things tend to work out."

He nodded and looked back up to the sky, "The world tends to unfold as it should."

"Wow, that's deep. Did you make that up?"

He shook his head, "Just something Sydney mentioned to me."

I looked back up to the sky, "Smart girl you got there, Adrian. Lucky you made that bold move when you did."

"Thanks to you. You encouraged that."

I shrugged, "I only nurtured what I saw growing. Both of you were just to chicken to try to tell the other."

He scoffed, "I was not chicken."

"Oh, you both were. I could have stuffed a pillow from all your ruffled feathers, chicken."

We both laughed out into the empty air. The wind seemed to like the sound of it because it was carried off into the distance. Until it hit the side of the waterfall. It echoed back to us like a recording overlapping itself. Growing dimmer and dimmer in sound as each wave made its way to our ears.

"Rose?"

"Hmm?"

He gave me a funny look, "What? I didn't say anything."

"Rose?" That time it was in singsong. Definitely not Adrian.

"I think someone is trying to wake me up," I shut my eyes and sighed. "I should be going."

He nodded, "See you at the rosary, Little Dhampir." Then everything began to melt into shadows. It all turned to black. And suddenly my bedroom appeared when I opened my eyes.

"Oh, good you're up" Mia was the one waking me.

I pulled the pillow over my face, "What?"

She pulled it off and threw it, "Dimitri told me to wake you up and tell you to get dressed."

"Where's Dimitri?" I looked around which was useless. If Mia was here waking me up that meant he was already gone.

"Getting breakfast." She walked over to my closet and started rifling through it, "Do you own any dresses or anything pretty?"

I groaned and slowly pulled myself out of bed, "No dresses. I have nice, decent clothe. You're looking through a Guardian's closet, Mia."

She sighed, "I figured. How about you borrow one?"

I looked at her tiny frame from head to toe, "I won't fit into any of your clothes."

She scoffed, "Not from me! I meant like from Liss or something."

Then I remembered, "I do have some dresses."

"Do you have one in black?"

"Yep." The little black dress.

By Shadow Kissed Mori