Four days passed, and I slept through all of them. I faded in and out at times. Bouquets of fresh flowers arrived to my room everyday. Visitors stopped by every time. Nurses came in and checked me. Lissa frequently came in with Ervin. Adrian never left my side through it all.

I woke up. There was a pounding in my head. I looked to my left and noticed that Adrian was asleep on the chair, his head resting on the edge of the bed. I leaned forward to stroke his hair. He stirred as soon as my hand made contact with his hair.

He smiled. "How are you feeling, little dhampir?"

"I am better, thanks to Christian and you."

He grabbed my hand in between both of his. "I am glad you're still with me. I almost lost you. I couldn't bear that."

"But you didn't. I'm here. I am alive and well." I turned my attention on matters more important. "Is our daughter doing well?" I asked, wanting to see my little angel.

"She is. She has passed all tests as if she were a normal newborn baby." That was good news.

"Can I see her?" I asked.

"Of course." Adrian got up and helped me stand up.

I was nervous to see what my daughter was like.

"Who does she look like? Me or you?" I asked on the way to where they were keeping her.

More than a million gifts were in the room. They were scattered all over the room, wrapped in pink paper wrap. I wasn't paying attention to that. My attention was more fixed on the baby that was inside an incubator, a beautiful baby girl.

Tears fell out of my eyes as I walked towards her.

I looked inside the incubator and was stunned shitless. Laying there was the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen. She looked like me mostly. She had my same exact face. She had been staring at the ceiling but when I came up to her she looked directly into my eyes. Her eyes were the same exact color of Adrian's. Her hair color was a shade lighter than mine. Her skin color was a little bit lighter than mine. She was so adorable and beautiful.

Adrian reached around me and took her out. He looked so good holding his little girl that I started crying, hard this time. He wiped some tears away. He shifted her in his arms and handed her to me. Taylor Alba was so cute; I couldn't believe she was mine. She looked at me with precious green eyes.

"Hi, little baby." Her lips started pouting as soon I as talked to her. She started crying. I turned to Adrian but kept my eyes on her. "I think she doesn't like me." I smoothed her little small hair. Taylor was going to have wicked cool hair like mine.

I grinned at her and kissed her little nose. "I really don't get how you can love something so instantly."

"Me neither. I remember when I first saw you at the lodge it was like love at first sight."

I smiled at him. "You just wanted me because I was so hot wrapped up in winter clothes and my black eye."

"How'd you guess?" He said playfully.

"Aw, how cute. I can't wait till I have my own." Yaritza said entering the room. Dimitri walked in behind her quiet as a ghost. There was cuts and scraped on his face.

I completely ignored her. I was so caught up in the moment with my daughter.

"Rose! Ohmygod! I thought Yaritza was kidding when she said you had had a girl!" Arianna gushed, coming into the room. Behind her was Charles Ivashkov. Paul and Sara were there too. Sara was now nine months; she would pop out a baby anytime soon and she was also going to have a boy. Damn, what was it with the Ivashkov's? Only shooting out boys. Well, except for me and Adrian. My mom and dad were lingering in the door way.

"Oh my goodness she is such a delight! She is so you Rose!" Arianna let out not stopping to take a breath. She stood behind me, not wanting to disturb the moment between me and my newborn daughter.

My mother started crying when she saw me holding my baby. "Rose. . ." she was at loss for words. I didn't blame her so was I.

"Hey, my precious, I love you." Taylor's wails had stopped but tears were running down her delicate newborn face silently.

My mother came up to me. "May I hold her, Rose?"

"Sure." I handed her to my mom, regretting it instantly.

Taylor was passed around from arms to arms. My baby was going to be a spoiled brat, since she was the first girl ever in Adrian's family. Everybody loved her.

She finally went to Adrian's arms again. I sat down on the chair I was really tired and I needed a shower.

Dr. Olendeski came in for Taylor's usual check up, I assumed, with the most awesome news ever. "Rose, I am glad that you are finally awake and well. You don't know how it relieves my heart to see you well." She walked were Adrian was standing caught up in the moment with his daughter. "Hey, there, precious baby."

She made quick pencil markings on her clipboard and seemed satisfied. "I have good news for you two. You guys can take the baby home in about one day." She checked me. "And you, Rose, can go anytime you want."

Awesome news! "Thank you for taking care of my daughter, Dr. Olendeski., and for taking care of me."

"Rose, well that is my job isn't it? No problem, Rose, I am glad that you are well." She walked out of the room, giving Taylor a kiss on the forehead before finally departing.

"Rose!" Rose, Rose, everywhere!

I turned around to see Tatiana standing in the doorway. She rushed to Adrian who was holding our newborn daughter.

"She is beautiful like you Rose." Ex-Queen looked. . . not well. Her disease had caught up to her. She had the same sickness that Victor Dashkov had. Although the disease was bad, Tatiana was handling well. Was. Looking at her now, I finally believed what the doctors had said; expect the worse.

"Thank you."

Adrian got up immediately and literally took my daughter out of Tatiana's arms. In no more than three seconds, my Taylor Alba was in my arms.

Everybody, mostly the Ivashkovs, were caught up in the moment of having their first grandaughter or niece that before we knew it the night was closing over us and the nurses were kicking guests out.

"Well, have a goodnight, daughter." My mom and dad were saying as they walked out of the room. They kissed Taylor on the forehead and me and. . . . Adrian before leaving.

"Rose, these damn nurses our kicking us out." Jack said as he took Vera's hand and led her through the doorway.

Dr. Oledneski was letting us to stay, but Arianna and Charles suggested that they take care of Taylor. I loved that idea. More time with my honey bear Adrian.

Adrian and left before they changed their minds.

Adrian carried me in his arms until we arrived at the suite. Yaritza and Dimitri had volunteered to watch Ervin and Arianna had volunteered to watch over Taylor in the hospital.

He set me down on the room's enterance and sighed happily. "It is good to have you back home and to be back home."

"Yes, it is." I walked to the closet where my clothes were set up. I didn't even see what I chose; I just wanted and needed to get in the shower as fast as I could.

I was surprised he hadn't come in here with me.

Take your time. Adrian sent through the bond.

I sent my mental laugh. I tried to take the quickest shower but the water felt much too good on my skin.

I got out of the shower. I went to see what I had taken out of the closet. I grinned, loving the pajama set. A gift from Drew. I blow dried my hair because I hated when I slept with my hair wet.

I sauntered out of the bathroom and to his side of the bed.

"Mr. Ivashkov, anything capturing your interest?" I asked.

He looked me over, head to toe. "I can't see; I am blinded by your beauty."

I laughed and joined him on the bed. He pulled me against his chest and I inhaled his scent. He turned off the TV, directing his whole attention to me. I loved it when he looked at me that way, in a love filled way. We were both tired and happy that we were finally home, that it was not so long that we lasted awake. His arms tightened against me and I snuggled closer to him. I slept peacefully, not even Adrian entered my dreams.

I woke up to the wonderful smell of French toast.

I slid out of bed and went inside the shower. When I was done showering, I went to the closet to pick out something to wear. I chose a black pencil skirt, a red silk blouse, some black wicked-looking stilettos, and a black coat to wear over the outfit.

My heels clicked, clicked, as I made my way to the kitchen. Once there, I sat my sexy ass on the counter. "What you cooking?" I asked, announcing my presence to Adrian.

"Good morning to you, too, babe." Adrian went to me. I kissed him very enthusiastically.

"When are we going to the clinic?" I asked already wanting to see my daughter.

"After you eat breakfast." He handed me a plate with French toast, eggs, and bacon. I was hungry, so I ate them quickly.

"We have such a beautiful daughter." I commented as we made our way through the Academy to where the clinic was at, our guardians trailing behind us.

"Yes, she is even more beautiful than you are, which surprises me since there isn't anything out there more beautiful than you." He smiled.

"I am not beautiful, I am dead sexy."

He spun me around to him. "You got that right."

"Behave." I bit his lip lightly and walked into the clinic.

Taylor's room was like the first one in the hallway so I didn't have to walk far which was good since Adrian had left me sore from last night. It was a good sore, though.

Arianna looked about to fall asleep at any moment; Charles looked a lot more energetic than could be possible as he had his granddaughter in his hands.

He handed her to me. "Your daughter is doing better than great; you can take her home anytime you want." Dr. Olendeski said behind me.

We enjoyed our last day at the Academy, before it was time to take Taylor Alba home. That is what we needed to do; escape this place that held the same amount of good memories as it held bad.

I kissed my daughter's forehead. "I love you ,baby." Adrian put his arms around us both and sat Ervin on his lap. We were the ideal family, one hot, gorgeous family with lots of money. Anyone would covet our life.

"I love you, too, Rose. Thank you for fulfilling this wonderful dream I always had about you and me."

I leaned over to kiss him. "You have nothing to thank me for." I said, closing my eyes as the pilot lifted off. The thought of finally going to our real home made me fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Adrian's phone ringing woke me up. Yaritza. "Hello," I answered for him since he was still asleep.

"Rose! Thank God it is you!"

Her voice sounded frantic. "What is it, Yariza?"

"Rose, the queen has died. This morning they found my Aunt dead in her bed."

Just then Adrian woke up. "What's wrong, Rose?" He asked, asking about the pinched expression on my face. Yaritza had long since hung up.

"Adrian. . ."

"Tell me."

"Your Aunt died this morning." I said, hugging him as pain overtook his face.