I am DEEPLY sorry for the wait! I feel so terrible for taking over a month to update . Can you guys ever forgive me? OH! And I was wondering if any of you lovelies knew when I'd said Demi's birthday is in one of my chapters, I forgot/: And I need to know so I can make sure I do it right. I think I said it's in March? I don't remember . So it'd be deeply appreciated if one of you could PM me her birthday OR say it in your review. Thank you! Hope you enjoy!

I woke up, laying in a bed in a hotel room. I shut my eyes tight, groaning at the huge hangover pounding at my head. After the last groan, I got up and shook my hair with my fingers, going to the window across the room. I opened the curtains and it was pitch black.

"Great, still used to vampire time," I muttered.

After living with those odd Moroi for a week, I was still on their time. Sleeping during the day and awake at night. I sighed and went to the mini kitchen for a drink of water. My head was still pounding, so I decided to lay back in bed. A million thoughts and images went through my head. Thoughts of Rose, pictures of Rose and Dimitri at the wedding, them at Lissa and Christian's. I couldn't get them out of my head. I squeezed my eyes tight, hoping that would shake them away. But it didn't. I got back up and splashed my face with cold water.

"Now time to figure out how to rid this hangover," I said, slipping in to non-wrinkly clothes.

I grabbed my hotel room key and walked out in to the streets. People were still roaming the streets, but I still hoped a Strigoi wouldn't sense me. Without a Guardian, I'm fucked. I walked to the nearest pharmacy, hoping they were still open. The sign read "Open 24/7", but you can never be so sure with humans. I pushed open the door and bells above the door rang loudly throughout the store.

"Hello!" A loud voice rang from somewhere in the store.

"Hello?"

A petite woman came out of one of aisle 7, greeting me with a big smile.

"I am SO sorry, but it seems that a bug is going around, so we're actually closing in a few minutes."

"That's alright, I just want to know how to get rid of this hangover I have."

Her face showed surprise, she wasn't even trying to hide it, "Oh! Okay! I'll lead you to all of our pills."

I followed the petite woman to the middle of one of the aisles and looked at all of the pills she picked up.

"Are you allergic to any of these pills?"

"I don't think so."

"Okay! Well any of these will work, so choose which ever you want quickly please!"

"Alright," I said, picking a box at random.

She put away the other boxes and took the one in my hands, walking quickly to one of the cash registers. She scanned the box and quickly rang me up.

"That'll be 2.99, sir."

I handed her a 5. She gave me my cash back and flashed her big smile again.

"Have a nice night sir!"

"Thanks, you too," I said, quickly leaving and headed back to my hotel.

As soon as I was safely in my room, I went to the bathroom and took as many pills as the directions said. I changed in to a pair of the pajamas I bought and laid back in bed. I flipped on the tv and found a movie to watch. After about 10 minutes, I quickly fell asleep.

The sun pouring on to my face woke me up. I shot up in bed and looked around. I don't remember leaving the curtains open? I slowly walked throughout the hotel room and saw an old woman in a maid's uniform scrubbing my toilet. She nearly jumped when we realized I was behind her.

"Oh my! I'm so sorry sir! I'll get out of your way," She said as she slowly got up.

But I stopped her quickly, "No, no it's fine. You can keep doing your job. I was just alarmed at the curtains being open."

Another big smile.

"Thank you sir."

"Your welcome."

I made sure the maid was still cleaning and I quickly changed in to some new clothes.

"I'm heading out, lock the door when you're finished please."

"Yes, sir."

I stepped out of the building and looked around, deciding on where to go. I spotted a little coffee shop and crossed the street towards it. The sign read, "Noelle's Coffee". I forced a smile at a woman looking out the window of the shop and walked in to the shop, a huge aroma of caffeine hitting me.

"Hello! How are you today sir?"

I stopped gazing around and looked at the woman addressing me. She had a supermodel look, almost Moroi.

"Hello."

"Is this your first time in here?"

"Yes, I've never drank coffee before," I said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry. Sit anywhere you'd like," She said, looking like my words really stung.

I walked over to a table with two chairs and sat. A man with an apron, pen and pad quickly came over to my table.

"Hello! Here's a menu, are you ready for drinks yet?"

My look was almost a glare when I looked up at the man, "I just got the menu. No I'm not ready."

"Oh, okay. Take your time!"

This man wasn't as soft as the woman, I figured. I looked at the cover of the menu and saw a picture of the woman on it.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath.

I got up and quickly went to the door.

"Wait!"
It was the woman, i mean Noelle, again. I turned around and she was right behind me.

"Are you not ordering anything?"

"No."

"Oh.." There was that look of hurt again.

"Sorry," I barely got out as I pushed the door open and left.

I took a big breath as I sat on the curb in front of the shop. I pulled my knees up, my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands. I was like that for about 10 minutes before someone put their hand on my back.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but are you alright?"

Her again.

"Did you find my menu empty? Unsatisfying?"

I looked up at her, "You remind me of someone."

"Who?"

"My ex."

She had a weird look on her face, "Oh. How?"

"She has long dark brown hair and brown eyes."

"Oh. I'm sorry. What happened?"

"There was another guy."

"Oh, I see. I know how you feel. I opened this shop because I'm still trying to get over my ex boyfriend. I wasn't getting anywhere and neither was he. And so he found a rich woman and decided she was better than I and dumped me."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

At this point, she was sitting on the curb beside me. We sat their in silence for a while until the man came outside needing her.

"I'm sorry. It was nice meeting you, even though I have no idea what your name is."

"Adrian Ivashkov."

"Oh, well I'm Noelle Price."

We both nodded and she walked back inside her shop with the man. I thought for a moment and decided to get up and go back inside. When Noelle saw me, she had a look of confusion as I sat down back in my seat. She tried to hide a smile (and failed) and came over to my table.

"So what does Mr. Ivashkov want to drink or eat?"

I looked at the menu and looked back up at her, "Just a cookie."

She laughed, "Alright. I'll be back with that."

After a few minutes, she was back with a huge cookie on a blue plate.

"Thank you, Miss Price."

"Your welcome, Mr. Ivashkov."

We both laughed and she sat down across from me.

"So...Am I allowed to know more about Adrian Ivashkov? Or is he off limits?" She said as I was ripping a bite off of my cookie.

Dimitri was painting the walls white as I started out the door. But, he stopped me, as I figured he would.

"Where are you going?"

"To see Lissa."

"Oh, okay. Have fun!" He said as he leaned down for a kiss.

I smiled and gladly kissed him. I walked outside and starting walking towards her building. Figuring I should probably tell her I'm coming(considering that one time), I pulled out my cell and texted her quickly. Her answer was as quick as mine.

"Okay."

I pushed open the main doors, greeted by a security guard I'd never seen before. I walked up the flight of stairs and knocked on their door.

Christian was the one to answer, "Hello, Rose."

"Hey, is Lissa around? She said I could come over."

"She'll be just a minute."

I sensed his worry, so I easily pushed through him and in to the bedroom. She wasn't there, so I checked their bathroom. And there she was, sitting on the closed toilet with a pregnancy test in her hand. She quickly looked up at me.

"Rose..."

I backed out of the bathroom and down the hall to Christian.

"What in the hell happened?"

And as always, a smart ass comment, "We did what you and Dimitri did, Rose. We had sex."

I smacked his arm, "What happened to staying safe for a while?"

"Well Lissa changed her mind and I agreed with her."

I leaned against the wall, shutting my eyes.

"You'll have to tell the Guardians if she is. She'll need extra protection."

I opened my eyes and looked at him. He had fright clear on his face.

"I'm not ready for this. I made a mistake."

"Christian, it's fine. Plus, you have 9 months to figure out what in the hell to do."

"Less than 9. We decided this the night of your wedding, so I have 7 or 8."

I shut my eyes again, "You need to be ready for her. She can't be alone in this."

"I know."

I went back to Lissa and look the stick away from her gently. A tiny little pink cross was shown.

"You are."

Her face went in to her hands and I went to show Christian.

"She's pregnant...I'm not ready."

"She doesn't look like she is either. You guys need to help each other through this. Take parenting classes, see a counselor."

"You have it so easy Rose, you guys can just ship your baby off to an academy like your mother did to you."

My hand clenched in to a fist, "What?"

"You guys have it easy, you won't have your child for long."

Regreting it as soon as I did it, I punched him as hard as I could in the cheek. He bent over in pain and I quickly left. I tried to go down the stairs as quickly as I could without falling and losing my baby. As soon as I thought "my baby", my hand flew to my stomach. When I went out the door, I sat on the curb hugging my stomach tight.

"I won't leave you, I won't do to you what my mother did to me. I promise. We'll live here at the court together and you'll learn how to be a guardian here. We won't leave you. We won't send you off somewhere and never call in to check on you."

Tears were streams down my cheeks at this point.

"Rose?"

I recognized the voice. I looked up and Adrian was standing over me, concern all over his face. I quickly got up, wincing as soon as I did.

"Adrian? I thought you were in Europe?"

"Went in to Lissa's dreams last night. She told me she thinks she's pregnant, so I came to see her."

"And I'm last to know. That's nice."

"You were crying over that?"

"No! I have my reason."

"And what would that be?"

"Christian made fun of the fact that my mother sent me off to an academy, and that I'd do the same to mine," I said as I walked off.

"Rose, wait! What are you talking about?"

"Ask Christian!" I yelled back.

I took deep breathes, hoping Dimitri wouldn't notice I was crying.

You're stupid, Rose. Of course he would. He notices everything.

I walked in to the house, trying to avoid Dimitri.

"Rose! How was it?"

"Fine," I said as I walked up the stairs.

As soon as I was in our bedroom doorway, I heard him coming up the stairs. I curled up in bed and covered my whole body up.

"Rose? What's wrong?"

I stayed quiet, even though he knew exactly where I was. He could see me.

"Rose. Please talk to me."

"Adrian's back," I said quietly.

"Oh? Where is he at?"

"Over at Lissa's."

"Anything happen?"

"No."

The doorbell rang loudly throughout the house.

"Be right back," He said as he walked downstairs.

I heard him open the door, but I couldn't hear who had rung the doorbell. I quietly walked to the top of the stairs and listened quietly.

"Yes, she did say you were back in town. What made you come back?"

I could almost hear the smile in his voice as he said, "Reasons."

Dimitri laughed, "Better not be after Rose."

"Oh, no. I met someone in Florence."

"Oh, really? What's her name?"

"Noelle Price."

"How'd you meet her?"

"She owns a little coffee shop. I came in one day and we met and talked a lot."

"That's nice. Are you wanting to talk to Rose?"

"Yes, actually. Where is she?"

"Upstairs. I'll go get her."

"No, I'll go up there. I need to talk to her in private."

"Okay."

I heard Adrian walk across the floor. I quickly got back in to bed and faced away from the door.

"Rose?"

I stayed silent again. I nearly jumped when he sat on to the bed next to me.

"Christian told me what happened."

Still silent.

"I threatened him for it."

I smiled a little.

"Will you please turn around and talk to me?"

I nodded, slowly turning to face him. Despite what we've been through, he had a legit look of concern on his face. I loosened my tension.

"So I still manage to make you smile?"

I looked at him confused, until I realized that I still had earliers smile on my face. "Oh, that's from you saying you threatened him."

He laughed, "I figured. But someone had to put Ozera in his place, so no thank yous please."

Knowing it'd go against his wishes, I jumped at him and wrapped my arms around his neck tight. "Oh thank you Adrian! I appreciate everything you do deeply!"

Trying to pry me off, he was laughing hard. "I said no thank yous."

I grinned wide, "I know."

I hoped for another rare smile from him, but his face got its seriousness back from earlier. Damnit.

"So I heard you tell Dimitri you have to speak to me in private?"

"Yes, It's about Christian."

"What about him?"

He ran his hands through his always tousled, messy hair and sighed. "Well, as I said, I did put him in his place over the whole guardian mom thing. But, I think it wasn't intentional."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Lissa is pregnant. They're both saying they're not ready. Out of worriedness and everything, he was a complete asshole to you."

"That makes no sense Adrian..."

"He's pissed off for agreeing with Lissa. He took his anger out on you."

"Oh...I see what you're getting at." Why didn't I think of that...? Of course he'd be pissed over this whole mess and decide to take it out on me, considering Lissa being hysterical in the bathroom and him not wanting to hurt her feelings further. "Yeah, you're right. He wouldn't want to hurt Lissa, and I was there."

"Yepp..."

"So what're we going to do about this whole mess? They're obviously going to be a huge wreck once the due date nears."

He scratched his head, deep in thought. "I may not know much about babies, but I could be a sort of parenting counselor to Christian and you to Lissa. Like call real parenting counselors and get them in to classes and stuff. You could even take the classes, being pregnant and all."

I thought it over for a moment. "That could work. And buy a ton of parenting magazines."

"Yeah, make them less nervous and have them realize they're not alone with being terrified of having their first child."

I sat in awe, looking at Adrian. He gave we a weird look.

"What?"

"You're smart..."

He almost looked insulted, "Are you saying I'm a complete moron who doesn't know shit?"

I shook my head, "No, no! I just ment for someone who hasn't dealt with babies, you seem to know a lot."

He flashed me his most charming smile. "Well, I was kind of hoping that I'd get by on my looks, but after about a year I found out that wouldn't work."

I laughed, "And what made you realize that?"

He smiled, "Dating you."

I gave him a look. "Really?"

"Yes. After a bunch of rejection, I decided I can't get what I want with just my looks and charming personality."
I laughed, hard. "Charming?"

He scoffed. "Yes, Rose. My charming personality."

I nearly choked, I was laughing so hard. "You're funny."
He crossed his arms. "Well then..."

I hugged him tight. "Thank you Adrian."

He patted my arm. "For?"

"Threatening Christian, talking to me about all of this Lissa stuff. It really helps to have some people helping me so I don't have to figure out everything on my own."

He smiled. "God knows you've been doing all of the thinking for a long time."

I hit his arm lightly.

"Come downstairs with me. Dimitri has dinner cooking."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Good! I'm starving."

"Well then you better get down there."

I jumped out of bed and sped walked down the steps. As soon as I got in to the living room, I realized Dimitri wasn't cooking dinner at all. He was watching tv and it's only 4 o'clock.

"Damnit Adrian!"

I could hear him laughing hard at the top of the stairs. "What's wrong Rose?"

"You said there was food!"

"No I didn't, you're lying."

"I am not!"

"Yepp..you've been sleeping. You're still half asleep and don't know what's going on."

I scoffed. Dimitri looked over at me and smiled. "Sleep good?"

I fumed. "I wasn't sleeping."

"Oh? What were you doing?"

"I was talking to Adrian and laying in bed."

He thought for a moment. "Hmm..not a good combination. I told you to stay away from Rose, Adrian!"

There was a muffled fit of laughes again. I smiled and curled up on the couch against Dimitri. He wrapped his arm around me.

"What would you like for dinner?"

I thought. "Greasy things that aren't good for you but taste oh so good?"

He laughed. "And you want to feed that to the baby?"

I frowned. "But..."

"Might as well give her what she wants, Dimitri. You know the kid'll turn out just like her."

Dimitri started laughing, "You're right, Adrian. What do you want to eat, Rose?"

I glared at both of them. "You're not funny."

"Oh yes, we are. Like Adrian said, you know the kid will be just like you."

I fumed, until I really thought about it. My face softened. "You guys are right. But, it can't be THAT funny. That means you'll have to deal with 2 of me," I smiled evily.

His face faultered. "Damnit," He muttered, "You're right."

I smiled big.

"So what do you really want to eat?"

"I don't know, maybe some chinese?"

"Sounds good. You want anything, Adrian?"

"Nope..was just gonna head out now. Thought I'd go pay Lissa and Christian another visit."

"Alright, goodbye."

"Bye Adrian."

"Bye Rose, Dimitri."

As Adrian shut the door, Dimitri got up to go to the kitchen. I flipped the tv channel until I gave up, finding nothing to watch. I sighed, turning the tv off. I fetched my phone from the bedside table upstairs and called Lissa.

"Hey."

"Hey, wanna come over?"

"Sure. What're you guys having for dinner?"

"Chinese."

"Okay. When do you want me over?"

"Whenever you can come over."

"Okay, I'll be over there in about 10 minutes."
"Okay. Bye Liss."

"Bye Rose."

I hung up and went downstairs to the kitchen.

"Who were you talking to up there?"

"Lissa. Her and Christian are coming over, I think."

"You think?"

"I know she is. I don't know about Christian."

"Oh, he'll more than likely come over too."

"Yeah."

I started setting the table while Dimitri called the Chinese place. As he was argueing with the person on the other end of the line, the door was opened and shut. I went to the living room and Lissa and Christian were standing in front of the door. I walked over to Lissa and hugged her tight.

"Hey Liss, how're you guys doing now?"

Lissa shot Christian a look then looked back at me. "We're okay, but still worrying over everything."

I patted her arm softly, "No need to worry. Dimitri and I will help you through this. We'll help each other. I'm still shocked over my pregnancy."

She looked up at me, "Really?"

"Of course. Dhampirs aren't supposed to be able to have babies together, but someone we did. I'm still surprised, even terrified. I have no experience with children and I always wonder how good of a mom I'll be. I don't want to be a bad mom and Dimitri leave me or something," I looked down.

She gave me one of her nervous smiles, saying that she isn't sure what to say to me. "It'll all be okay. I'm sure you'll be a great mom. You're always worrying about everyone else but yourself. You'll be fine."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. Besides, our babies won't be too far off, so we can have play dates and chat about everything. We'll help each other through this, like you said."

I smiled, "I'm glad I have you, Liss."

"I am too. Especially after yours and my parents deathes. I don't think I could have made it through without you."

We hugged each other tightly, but quickly pulled away when the doorbell rang, scaring us. I quickly went to answer the door.

"Hello?"

"You ordered Chinese?"

"Oh, yes! What do we owe you?"

"Twenty-five dollars and ten cents, ma'am."

"Okay, hold on."

I quickly got the money out of my purse and handed it to him.

"Thank you, ma'am. Have a nice night."

"You too."

I set the food on the table in the middle and got Liss and Christian so we could sit down and eat. We sat down and started eating.

"Thank you for tonight, Rose."

"You're welcome Liss."

"Thank you for opening up to me like that. It feels like we've drifted a little since I became Queen."

"A little, but I hope that doesn't happen again. You're like a sister to me."

"Same here."

We hugged each other tight.

"Stay safe, going home."

"I will. I love you, Rose."

"I love you too. Bye Christian."

"Bye Rose, Dimitri."

"Goodbye Christian and Lissa."

I shut the door behind them softly and turned to look at Dimitri.

"So what do you want to do now?"

He laughed softly, "Sleep?"

"Why sleep?"

"It's pretty late, Rose. You and Lissa talked for hours. Christian and I thought you'd never stop."

I smiled, "Well it was important stuff," I said as I slid on to his lap.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, "Like what?"

"Baby stuff."

"Oh..," He smiled, "Like what?"

"Just parenting classes we could go to and baby names.

He made a sound, it almost sounded like a groan.

"What?"

He laughed, "You're already thinking of names, Roza? You're barely pregnant."

I pouted, "So?"

"Sooo we should wait a while."

"How long?"

"Maybe when we find out what the sex is?"

"Oh, alright," I said as I laid my head on his shoulder, "Should we go back to work soon?"

"I don't know, it'd have to be up to Lissa. And you're pregnant. You can't get hurt."

I frowned, "So I have to be a boring housewife?"

He smirked, "Maybe."

"But that's SO boring!"

He smiled.

"It's not funny."

He started laughing a little.

I hit his arm playfully, "What's so funny?"

"I'm imagining you in an apron or maids outfit running around the house, cleaning."

This time I smacked him with force.

"Ow!"

"That's not funny."

He continued to smile. I groaned as he was standing up, holding me tight while doing so.

"You're mean."

"Am not."

"Yes you are, I don't want to be a housewife. I didn't do all of that work at the Academy for nothing."

"I know, Roza. But it's for your safety. Do you want our baby to get hurt or possibly die? Do you want a miscarriage."

I sighed, "No..."

"Alright then, no work for you. Can you manage being a housewife?"

"Yes, if Liss can come over when she has nothing to do."

"See, it won't be so bad," He said as he carried me up the stairs.

"But it's still boring."

"No waking up early..chocolate donuts whenever you want."

I smiled at that, "It's not so bad now."

He was laughing softly now, I could feel his chest going up and down.

"Ready for bed?"

"Why do I have to go to bed? I don't have to work in the morning."

He smiled, "But you do have a baby inside of you. Might wanna get as much sleep as you can. Once it's here, it'll keep you up all the time."

I sighed, "True..."

He laid me on the bed and got in to bed beside me.

"Goodnight Rose."

"Night, Dimitri."

I kissed his cheek and got under the covers. Sleep took over quickly.

I woke up, the sun shining bright in my eyes. I covered my eyes with my arm.

"Uuuuugh..."

"Goodmorning."

I sat up quickly and looked at the doorway. Dimitri was still here.

"What're you still doing here?"

"It's only 7, Rose."

"Oh...When do you have to leave?"

"8."

"Want some breakfast?"

"No, it's fine. Go back to sleep."

"I'm not really tired.."

"Oh. I can make you breakfast, if you'd like."

"No, it's fine Dimitri. But thank you."

"You're welcome."

He walked over to the bed and sat beside me. I hugged him tight.

"I'm going to miss you today."

"I'll miss you too. Make sure you're careful, without me around. I don't want you falling."

"I won't. I'm barely pregnant, I can still see my feet."

He laughed, "Well that's a relief. I might see if I can stop working, once you're real big."

"Why?"

"I don't want you getting hurt. What if you need help?"

"We can find someone to stay with me. We could fly your mother in."

"True, are you sure you want to do that?"

"Of course. You need to do your job, you need to guard Lissa."

"Alright, if you say so."

"I do," I kissed him softly on the lips, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"I'll always worry about you, Roza. I can't help it."

I smiled, "I love you."

"I love you too."

He helped me out of bed and I went to the bathroom.

"Urgh, I'm already hating this," I yelled out to him from the bathroom.

"What do you mean?"

"I read that babies sit on your bladder, and even though it's only little, I'm already going a lot."

He chuckled, "Imagine how it'll be when it gets bigger."

I groaned, "Don't remind me."

"It's almost 8, try to hurry so you can tell me bye."

I tried my best to hurry, washed my hands and went back out in to the bedroom.

"Goodbye Dimitri.."

"Goodbye," He said before kissing me.

I hugged him tight, "Stay safe."

"I will. You too."

We smiled at each other and he went downstairs to leave. I laid back in bed and thought about what I could do today. Maybe call some people and see what their doing? Sounds good to me. I grabbed my cell off the bedside table on my side and called Lissa.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Liss. Are you busy today?"

"Yeah, I have meetings today. Why do you ask?"

"I wanted you to come over, but it's okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Being the Queen is more important."

"No it's not, family comes first."

I smiled, "Love you Liss."

"I love you too Rose."

We hung up and I did what I thought I wouldn't ever do: I dialed Adrian's number.

"Rose, what a surprise. What's brought you to call me?"

"I was wondering if you were busy today?"

"Oh, Dimitri's not there is he? Is that why you called? Didn't want to be caught in the act? Even though him being gone is risky."

"I don't mean that!"

He laughed, "I know, I was just messing around."

"So are you busy?"

"No, actually. Since Lissa has meetings, I have nothing to do. How about you? Why aren't you at work with Dimitri?"

"I'm supposed to be a housewife."

"Oh, I can see why Belikov would tell you that. He's snooping around too."

"Adrian!"

"I'm kidding, again. Calm down."

I groaned, "Can you please come over?"

"Of course, on my way," He hung up.

I shut my phone, "What did I just get myself in to?"

Thanks for reading! Please review!