Part One - Tasha
Two months passed since the horrid accident.
Yaritza's wedding was in a less than month. She was really excited although she was still sad about what had happened. I was going to be her maid of honor. It was going to be a small wedding in Russia, they had decided. I was happy for her and Dimitri. We had gained another problem, though.
Tasha and Stan.
Tasha was going have Stan's baby. It was kind of weird since Stan was like five years younger than her. But when it is love, it doesn't matter. Does it? They had fallen in love in the way Dimitri and Yaritza had; instantly and uncontrollably. There wedding was today. Tasha had been pregnant back then when I was going to get married, I remembered, but she had had a stillborn. She was sad but life moved on.
I was not Tasha's maid of honor, thank god, but Arianna was. Dimitri was Stan's best man. Tasha's wedding was going to be outdoors. Since she had limited means and she wanted an outdoor wedding and our house had so much extra space for her outdoor wedding, we, Adrian and I, offered our land to her so that she could do her wedding. She was so grateful that she literally would have offered her blood to us at any second.
Mia and Eddie were finally going to come back from their trip in Europe. Mia had barely given birth a month ago. She had a precious girl that she named Savannah. Savannah Castile looked exactly had her dad; she even had the same birthmark on her left cheek like Eddie. She was precious alright but Nathalie, Lissa's newest daughter, was much prettier. But the baby that beat both of them put together in beauty was Taylor.
Taylor was now three months. She was really tiny though, okay, not that tiny, which was understandable since she had been a preemie. She gained about five pounds since she was born and grew six inches. She looked more like Adrian now, though. Ervin was now one year and three months. He was such a handsome boy; he took after his father. Damn, why did my kids have to look so much like him? Who cared anyway; they were beautiful children.
Beside that, Ervin was bonded with Taylor. But it was not the normal type of bond. The bond only functioned if Taylor was in trouble. Ervin would know if Taylor was in trouble before Taylor knew it herself. It was confusing, yes. Half the time Adrian and I didn't get it. But other than that, it was unique and helpful or useful.
Another problem or well surprise was Victor Dashkov. Since he had died, and didn't have any other family members, he had left everything to me. Crazy? Yeah. I had inherited more than $10,000,000,000,000.00 dollars. I almost had a heart attack, when I found out the amount. Now, I could compete with an Ivashkov.
I walked out of the bathroom slowly. Hoping that test didn't get a pink line I walked into the closet to find my dress for Tasha's wedding; I had barely remembered that my period was five days late. I was looking intently for the damn bag that held the dress, when Adrian spoke from behind.
In his hands was the pregnancy test. "What is this?" He asked, a small smile of happiness was on his face.
"What does it look like?" I said sarcastically. "A panther?" I turned my attention to finding that dress.
He wrapped his arms around me and placed his hands where possibly another baby of ours was growing. "Is it one hundred percent sure? Are you pregnant?"
I sighed left his arms. In the corner of the closet, was the black bag with my dress. "I don't know. I might not be though."
"It's okay of you are. Its our third child only."
"Yeah, whatever." I stripped naked and slipped on the black silky dress. Adrian and I were assigned to wear the color black.
He came to me and hugged me again. "Don't be mad."
"I am not mad. I'm just not happy." I turned around so that he could zip me up. I patted his chest when I was zipped up. "Now, get dressed."
He caught my hand and he was serious. "I never asked you this. It has always been my dream that you and I have a big family. How many children do you want, honey?"
"As many as I say I want."
"So that would be? How many?"
I thought about that. I kissed him on the cheek. "That's for me to know and for you to find out." I said, winking at him.
He chuckled. "Secretive, I like them like that." He turned to me and looked at me seductively. "Rose, can you help me get dressed?"
I smiled sweetly. "Go fuck yourself, Adrian."
"Can you help?"
I was walking down the hallway, but he heard my retreating laugh. It took me a second to realize that I had forgotten my shoes. I walked back to my bedroom. Adrian was getting undressed. He looked so damn sexy it made me breathless and the room's temperature suddenly went up.
I pressed myself close to him as possible. I began kissing his near the back of his neck. "Why do you have to be so damn sexy, Adrian?"
He turned around and pushed me against the wall. "Why do you have to be such a sexy bitch?" He retorted.
We would have gone a little bit farther if not for a knock on the door.
"Come in." Adrian called out and I straightened out my dress. My breath was out of control so I walked to the closet.
"Um. . . Rose? The hair lady wants you down there already." Mia said.
"Alright! Be right out!" I said ,grabbing my shoes and putting them on my awesome feet. I gave a quick kiss to my smiling husband. "This isn't over, Ivashkov!" He smiled wickedly.
I hurried out of the room before he could say anything else.
Tasha's hair was done in perfect ringlets when I entered the room. Everyone in the wedding was assigned to one color. Adrian and I had been selected for black. Christian and Lissa had been selected for white. Mia and her family for green. Yaritza and Dimitri for blue. Jack and Vera had been selected for red. And I forgot the rest. . .
"Wow! Rose! Adrian told me!" Lissa whispered excitedly and sad at the same time.
"He told you what?" I asked, hoping it wasn't what I told him last night in bed. Which was that I was glad Lissa and I weren't bonded anymore because she could get very annoying at times.
"That you were thinking about going back to school! If you go, I'll go with you."
Adrian and I had talked last night, after we did our little usual love scene, about me going to school. I wanted to graduate from college and get a career on Veterinary. Yes, I wanted to be a vet. But if Adrian had knocked me up again, I wasn't going to do anything.
"I want to go to school. But if some unwanted matters to turn out to be true, then I am not doing anything." I said, internally I wanted to kill Adrian.
"What unwanted matters?" Lissa asked.
"None—
"Rose?" Tasha asked hesitantly from the other side of the room and I was grateful.
Lissa gave me a look. I smiled at her and walked over to Tasha.
"Yes, Tasha?"
"Rose, sweetie, can you get Arianna for me?"
"I thought she would be with you." But I went over to get Arianna.
Arianna was talking to Adrian when I walked down the stairs. Adrian's hand was wrapped around a dhampir who was much prettier than me. What the hell? I was about to go slap him when he spoke a lighter voice than Adrian had.
"Yes, mother. We have." The Adrian look alike said.
"Good, Andre." Who the hell is Andre?
"Andre!" Adrian said coming down the stairs. He took my hand and led me off the stairs where I stood looking like and idiot.
"Adrian!" Andre said. Andre looked like Adrian an awful lot expect Adrian had green eyes and Andre had dark brown eyes that almost looked black.
They hugged. Adrian motioned to me with his hand. "Andre, meet my wife. Rose, Andre. Andre, Rose." He introduced us.
Before he said anything, he checked me out for a couple of seconds. The way he was staring at me made me feel naked and exposed. His dark looked into mine. He had and aura of darkness around him. Trouble screamed at me as I looked at him. Goose bumps came on my skin as he looked at me. "Such a delight to me you, Rose."
"Same here." I said, but I was feeling the opposite.
The mysterious woman beside him spoke. Not to me ,though. "Adrian," she said seductively, "It's been a while since I've seen you." I disliked her right away.
"Good, I've been good, Rika." He looked at her and you could tell her disliked her too. She turned to me. "Ah, so this is your infamous wife."
"Yeah, I am Adrian's wife." Ervin came running to me and hugged my leg which meant that Yaritza was here.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Adrian picked him up and kissed him on the cheek. Yaritza came to me and handed me Taylor. She started crying since she wanted to go with Adrian.
Rika's face registered shock as she saw Adrian with our kids. "Adrian, you have kids?" She asked.
"Yes, this is my son Ervin and my daughter Taylor." He looked at me and smirked. "And that" —he pointed at my stomach—"could possibly be another kid of mine."
"I thought you didn't want kids." She said, staring accusingly at me.
"That's what I thought too. But when Rose came into my life everything changed, I changed. And so as you can see these our kids." Adrian said, looking adoringly at the kids and at my stomach and into my eyes.
I shook my head trying to clear my head. "Arianna, Tasha wants up there." I said to her and smiled.
"Rose, are you pregnant again?" She asked; she probably wanted me to give them another girl.
I looked murderously at Adrian. "No, of course not. Adrian is being delusional right now. He probably hit his head too hard last night." I looked back at her. "Come on lets go to Tasha." I took Taylor out of his arms. "See you later." I said to all.
"Oh my God, Rose! You're having another baby." She took Taylor out of my arms.
"I might be pregnant." I said, grimacing.
"Ay, Rose." She shook her head and baby talked my crazy daughter Taylor.
She walked into the room where Tasha was getting ready. I took Taylor out of her arms. I walked to her room.
A hand touched my shoulder. "Hey there, gorgeous." Said Andre behind me.
"Don't touch me!" I yelled at him and it made his evil smile grow.
"As you wish, sexy." He said.
"Don't call me that. My name is Rose." I was furious. I did not like men like these.
"Alright ,sexy Rose." He said and chuckled. "So you and Adrian, huh?"
"What do you mean?" Not that I cared what he meant.
"So do you really love him?"
What a stupid question to ask. "Yes." I said and smiled.
"But does he love you?"
The question bothered me. Did Adrian love me? He told me every night and morning that he did. But what if that was just talk? "Of course, he loves me."
I stopped walking and went inside Taylor's room. He leaned against the wall. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." I rummaged through Taylor's clothes looking for something black.
"What makes you so sure?"
"He loves me and that's that."
He chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that." He said, threateningly.
He gave me the chills. I think I don't like you much.
I put Taylor in her crib as I looked for her clothes. I walked into her closet. Nothing here nothing there. Adrian walked in the room, taking Taylor out of the crib and throwing her in the air. Taylor laughed and squealed. She really was adorable when she laughed. Hell, she was adorable all the time.
I went to go stand next to Adrian. "So what did you think of my twin brother, little dhampir."
"He's an asshole." It slipped out of my mouth.
"Why do you say that?" He asked while cradling Taylor.
"It's obvious." There on the far corner of her room was Taylor's dress. It was cute and sort of like mine. It was cute black sundress. It was strapless and had a little black bow on the side.
I took her from Adrian laid her on her changing table. She started crying of course, since she was out of Adrian's arms. I changed her quickly and handed her to Adrian who was holding her bottle of formula. Her hair was wild and all over the place, it reminded me of Adrian's sex hair.
I laughed as I looked at her hair. "What's so funny, little dhampir?" Adrian asked.
"Nothing. Why didn't tell me you have a twin brother?" I asked.
"I forget I even have a brother since he so rarely visits." He seemed lost in thought. "And he usually comes back when there is something he wants. I wonder what is?"
"Damn, talk about the perfect family." I said sarcastically.
Adrian looked at me and smiled. I heard Taylor's soft snore and chuckled softly. Adrian looked down at her. "We have such a beautiful daughter." He kissed her on the forehead.
"Yes, I know." Adrian went to go sit on the rocking chair with her. I sat on his lap.
I was about to tell him about what Andre had told me when Arianna burst through the door. "People take your spots downstairs!"
"We'll be there!" Adrian yelled back. I gathered Taylor in my arms, put my heels on, took Adrian's hand, and walked to the ceremony spot.
We were assigned to sit in the front since we were the ones hosting the wedding. It was kind of cool. The only that wasn't cool was that Andre was assigned to sit next to me and Rika was assigned to sit next to Adrian.
Up in the front of the chapel set up Stan looked about to pass out at any second. His face was pale and he kept rubbing his hands now and then. He caught me looking at him and I winked. He grimaced and then turned his attention back to the swaying tree.
The music started playing and we turned to look at the walking Tasha. She was about three months pregnant so her belly wasn't that obvious. Tasha wore a simple dress. The material silky and it only had a small embroidering on the chest area for decoration; it was boring, yes, but it was her wedding; there was nothing we could do.
Throughout the ceremony, Andre kept trying to talk to me and I kept ignoring him. Adrian faced the same problem as well. I focused my attention to the sleeping baby in my arms. Andre stopped talking to me finally after thirty minutes.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The person said. Tasha and Stan kissed. Quite passionately, I might add. And then our beloved got on his knees and kissed Tasha's stomach. It was cute. He said some words to Tasha and tears fell out of her eyes. It was such and emotional thing that I started to cry.
Adrian looked at me teasingly. He leaned in and whispered in my ears. "Little dhampir, are the pregnancy hormones getting to you already?"
I slapped his arm. "Adrian!"
My outburst woke the baby up. "What I'd do, my love?"
"You woke up the baby." Shit, when you woke Taylor up from her sleep it was hell. Damn, good thing he was here so he could take care of her.
"Hey, baby." He said to the obviously pissed kid. Ervin got of Jack's lap to come to me and Taylor. Ervin was good to calm down Taylor.
The reception last until about nine p.m. That was the time Mr. and Mrs. Alto had to go to their honeymoon. Arianna and Charles had given the newly wedded couple an all paid trip in Cancun. We hired some good cleaning people since they cleaned the house spotless.
The happy couple left and all our family, which included the Ivashkovs except Andre and Rika, Lissa and her family, Mia and her family, my mom and dad, and me and Adrian. We all gathered in the family room, ate hot chocolate, and told story about all our kids.
Part Two - Yaritza
The plane ride had made me dizzy.
Tomorrow was Yaritza wedding so we were all gathered here in Olena Belikov's living room.
I sat down on her leather couch and put my feet on Adrian's lap. I laid my head backwards, hoping to fight off the dizziness. Olena handed me an ice pack. "So how is Dimitri?" Olena asked.
"Isn't he here already?"
"No. Was he supposed to be here?"
"Yes, he is not supposed to see Yartiza until tomorrow." Viktoria said ,coming down the stairs.
"I'm here!" Yaritza said from the doorway. Dimitri was right behind her. From the looks of his hair, it looked obvious that they had done something.
Olena said something to her son in Russian. Everyone who spoke Russian laughed. Dimitri blushed.
It surprised me when Adrian chuckled. "I have taught you better than that, son." Adrian translated. I laughed along with them. I really needed to learn Russian.
That day went by and then was gone.
The hotel bed was so comfortable that I wanted to tell everyone that I was still sick so that I could stay in bed and in Adrian's arms. But I needed a shower. After thirty minutes, Adrian walked in with Taylor who was ready to shower.
"I wonder how Yaritza is doing right now?"
"Nervous. I haven't heard of a bride-to-be who isn't nervous on her day."
"I wonder how Dimitri is feeling?"
"Regretful. I haven't heard of a guy who doesn't regret getting married."
I was done bathing Taylor and handed her to him and then I got out of the shower. Adrian took the baby and handed her to her nanny. I continued to dry my hair because Yaritza would kill me if I wasn't down there in an hour.
After an hour, I was all set to go.
Since I was the maid of honor, my dress was almost exactly like Yaritza's. Yaritza's was white and mine was black. The dress tied at the same spot ,at the neck. There was a small slit in the chest area. Just beneath the chest, boobs, there was a small line of rhinestones on Yaritza's and then there was a black bow on mine. Both of the dress went down all the way to our feet. Except Yaritza's flared out into a small train. She looked like a Barbie but I looked like a Goddess.
All the bridesmaid's hair was done the same; they were put into loose buns. I faded in and out of sleep as the make up person out on my makeup. She brushed at my eyes, dapped at my lips, and then she was done. I was the one who needed the least makeup since I was the most beautiful.
But being the first one done left me in charge of some duties.
"Go get the cake from the down town shop!" Yaritza yelled as they tried to do her hair in the way she was asking.
"Relax, we still have two hours till the wedding!" I yelled.
"I don't care! Go!" I went just to relive her; I really knew how stressed you could get when it was your wedding.
On the way downstairs, I saw Olena trying to do her hair and in fashionable way. "Here let me help you!"
"Ay, thanks, Rose!" I grabbed some bobby pins and in less than ten minutes she had a wickedly cool hairstyle. She checked herself out in the mirror. "Rose, this looks great sweetheart!"
She turned around and looked at me. "Rose, although, I am happy that you are happily married, and that Dimitri will get married, I wished it was you that he was marrying."
Her words shocked me. "I don't love him anymore, Olena."
"I know, I am just saying that I wish it were you."
"Alright, I better go before Yaritza comes down and kills me since I haven't gotten the cake." I kissed her cheek and left. I sure looked great walking down the town in black Converse and dress. I hurried my pace; it was embarrassing.
I arrived to the bakery in like ten seconds. "Can you deliver the cake to the Belikov's house in like two hours or else the bride will freak out?"
"Of course, Lady Ivashkov." The cute boy said.
"Thank you." I looked at the delicious Russian brownie and my mouth started to water. I picked one up and took a bite. "How much are these?"
"For someone is pretty as you, it's free."
"Thank you." Although it was free, I handed him a hundred dollar bill. It was something I had learned from Adrian. "And this is for someone as cute as you."
"Thank you!"
I walked outside and winked at him. "No problem."
I was so caught up in my brownie when I bumped in to Andre. "Watch where the hell you're walking, you idiot!"
"Damn, Rose! What have I don't to you to make you hate me?" He asked.
"Rose! Don't ever speak to my man like that ever again!" Rika said.
I completely ingored them and walked back down to Olena's house. Before I could walk all the way, Rika caught up to. "Don't think I'm that stupid. Don't think I don't see that you're trying to steal my man. You'll always be a blood whore that wants every guy she see. What's that saying? What girl wants, girl gets."
I looked back Andre who was leaning against the wall. "Oh, please! Why would want Andre when I have someone sexier than him?"
With that said, I walked into Olena's house.
"Did you get the cake?" Yaritza asked as I entered the room.
"No, the bakery people are going to bring it."
She looked at my feet. "What are you wearing? Take those things off!"
"Why? I am wearing these to your wedding." I said. Like expected, her face turned a bright red. I laughed, which made her glare grow. "God, calm down! You're just getting married. You're nervous now, but in a couple of years you'll be saying Why did I get married?. You'll see."
The hours fled and it was time for Yaritza to walk down the aisle.
I stood on the opposite side of Adrian who was standing in front of the chapel next to Dimitri. All hell had frozen over since Dimitri chose Adrian to be his best man. We still had at least ten minutes before the ceremony started and I sauntered to where Dimitri stood.
He looked pale, about to pass out at any second. "Hey ,comrade. You don't look so good. You're not regretting this, are you?" I said, fixing his tie.
He shook his head. "No." He looked at me and away. "The only thing I regret is that it's not you I'm marrying."
I scrunched up my eyebrows. "Okay, that was totally unexpected." I said and patted his chest.
I walked over to Adrian. I leaned on my Tipp toes and kissed him quickly on the lips. He made the kiss a little bit longer than I expected. I pulled away; I didn't want to ruin my make up. "Do you remember when we got married?"
"How could I not? You were so boner-provoking that day. "
I slapped his arm and laughed. "Is that even a word?"
He kissed me again, on the neck this time. "It is now." He laughed evilly.
I laughed with him one last time and kissed him one last time and then went to go take my spot. From the corner of my, I saw Dimitri looking at me. "I wish it were you." He whispered softly that I had to strain to hear him.
The music started and I literally ran to the end of the chapel set up so that I could walk in front of Yaritza. All the bridesmaids went and then it was my turn. And then it was Yaritza's turn who looked just like Dimitri did. Pale and about to pass out.
She smiled ,though, which was good.
She walked painfully slow. I wanted to pick her up and drag her to her spot. She finally walked those ten steps that needed to be walked and then took her spot next to Dimitri. They looked absolutely wonderful together that I was smiling and feeling their joy.
The ceremony took me back to the wonderful day Adrian and I got married.
I looked behind Dimitri to where Adrian was standing. He must have been thinking about the same thing because he smiled at me his gracious smile.
Love you. He sent through the bond.
Like I love you?
I love you more than you love me.
Oh, don't tell me we are going to start on that whole loving thing. God, knows that it is me that loves you more. I blocked the bond quickly so he wouldn't comment back.
I turned my attention back to Yaritza and Dimitri who were now saying their vows.
"Yaritza Ivashkov, I'll love'd you from the first second I saw you, and I will continue loving you until I die. . ." Dimitri was saying.
"Dimitri Belikov, I saw you and I knew you were perfect for me. . ." Yaritza responded back.
It was time to hand them their rings.
They said a little saying as they put their rings on each other.
They did whatever they had to do, and the minister pronounced them husband and wife. "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Belikov!" He turned to Dimitri. "Son, you may now kiss your wife!" Dimitri literally ate up Yartiza, they way he was kissing her.
We all clapped after their little love scene as me and Adrian liked to call it. I was so happy, that tears of joy fell out of my eyes. My arms first found Yaritza. "Welcome to the Marriage Club!" I said and kissed her cheek.
My arms then found Dimitri. "Congratulations, Comrade!" He hugged me close and kissed me softly on the cheek. It was like a good bye kiss. I smiled at him and then went to go find Adrian.
I wrapped my arms around his back when I spotted him. "Hey there, gorgeous!" I said enthusiastically, pressing myself closer to him.
"Hey, sexy." I stepped back immediately cause this guy was not Adrian.
I slapped him. "Don't call me that!"
He rubbed his cheek. "I want you, Rose. And I will have you." He pressed up against me and kissed me. "Does that satisfy you, Rose?" He asked when he was done.
Instead of answering, I punched him again and again until he fell to the ground. "Does that satisfy you?" I asked, in a way similar to how he had said it.
I walked away but not before he said, "I will have you, my lovely." I could see Rika standing there ,looking at Andre on the ground, laughing.
"You better watch yourself, Rose. Adrian is not so safe either."
I was a little shaky when I reached the reception which was Olena's back yard.
Adrian's arms wrapped around me. He pulled me away to a private area. "Rose, are you okay, baby?"
"Yeah. . ."
"You don't look okay."
"Adrian, I'm fine."
I was about to say more when her voice spoke behind me. "Adrian, why aren't you enjoying the party like other sane people?" Rika said.
"Just talking to Rose." He said looking at her weirdly.
Andre was walking up to us. He was rubbing his eye, which was going to be black tomorrow. I put on my poker face. "Andre, what happened to you?"
"Some bitch out on the street hit me." He said smirking.
That didn't erase my smile or got me pissed off. It just made my smile grow. I looked at Rika. "Don't be so mean. Don't call Rika like that."
I tugged at Adrian's arm and hauled him to the table that we were assigned to.
The food was good. It was one of Olena's specialties. Their first dance was danced to the song Take My Breath Away by Berlin. It was cute to watch. All eyes were on them and cameras flashed.
They hadn't wanted a big production wedding. It was at least eighty guests. The reception took place in Olena's backyard. Yaritza's and Dimitri's honeymoon was not to leave the country but to stay here. They were going to spend a month in Russia, Dimitri giving a tour of Russia to Yaritza.
I danced some songs with Adrian and then we had to leave because Ervin and Taylor wanted to sleep already. We left to the hotel hand-in-hand. We could hear Jack and Vera walking behind us with their son David.
We walked into the hotel.
Our room was the biggest one there. It took up most of the last floor. Jack and Vera shared one similar to ours. The hotel staff was going to be very happy when we left cause they were getting decent amounts of tips.
We put the kids to bed and crawled under the covers.
Adrian put his arm around me. "Rose, the bruises on Andre's face. . . Were they caused by you?"
I sighed and decided to tell him the truth. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Andre kissed me."
He looked at me. "What?"
"Yes. Ever since I met him he has always been saying things like I will have you, Rose. or You are so sexy, Rose. Those kind of things. This time I snapped. I don't know about next time, though."
He let go of me and turned his back to me. "I know Rika and him tell me. They say you start it. That you are the one provoking him." He said angrily.
"What? What the hell, since when did you get brainwashed by them?" I asked.
"I'm not brainwashed! If you want, Andre, you can have him for all I care!"
"So this is how it's going to be huh?"
"Shut up, Rose. I don't want to hear you!"
I turned my back on him too. "You are an asshole after all." I muttered. I fell asleep soon, with tears in my eyes, hurt ringing in my chest. Since when had Adrian turned so mean?