Disclaimer:

I do not own Vampire Academy or any characters pertaining to Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead does. :)

Have I ever mentioned that hormones are hell?. . .

I was pissed at seeing them that I almost pushed them off the staircase that led up to my front door. I would of, like I mentioned, but she still had that baby stomach. Instead, I settled with talking to them rudely. "What the hell do you want? And make it quick because I got better things to do then waste my time talking to you!" I was pissed.

Adrian came to stand next to me. "Calm down," he whispered in my ear, while his hand snaked around me.

"We need to talk to you two." Andre said, very seriously.

I stepped aside to let them in. Everyone was literally looking at Rika and Andre like they were Strigoi. "Can we go somewhere more private?" Rika asked.

"Whatever you guys have to say, you can say in front of them." I said, looking straight at her.

She shrugged fine. This was so not like the Rika we were used to seeing. She looked at me first. "Rose. . ." I think she couldn't find words to start.

Andre took over for her but he looked at Adrian. "Adrian, I was always jealous of you. Always did bad things to you. This was the worst thing I have ever done to anyone. Will you forgive me, my brother?"

I looked at Adrian. He was shocked that Andre had called him brother. "One time, I read something, somewhere that there was no limit on how many times you could forgive a brother or sister." He looked lost in thought. "Although everyone that you were always that bad-boy you made everyone believe you were, I always knew that good side of you. You were Fire and I was Spirit." He looked up to his brother. "I forgive you, Andre."

Andre hugged his brother. It was very emotional to watch them. I cried big fat tears. Jack and Paul joined them a couple of seconds later. The celebration was over and Andre was now looking at Rika. "Isn't there something you want to say, Rika?"

She wiped some tears away and looked away. "Rose, I just wanted to say that I am really sorry for ruing your life. I know how it is when you really love someone and you can't really be with them because of lies and rumors. Believe it or not, I had to undergo that some years back. I'm sorry. I am not asking you for your forgiveness because I know you will never give it to me but I want you to know that I am sorry." She smiled kindly while she rubbed her stomach.

I shook my head. But not because I was saying no to her apology. "Rika, you have done so many bad things to my life. But, you know, I'm glad that you did."

"How in the world. . . Are you—

I put a hand up. "Let me finish!" I put my hand down. "They were good because it made me realize that when it's true love nothing can ever overcome it. And that's what Adrian and I have. True love. And Rika?"

"Yeah?" Tears were dripping down her face. She had a small puddle of tears on the hardwood floor.

"I forgive you but I don't ever want to see you in my life again."

She nodded sadly. "That I can do, Rose. But I have another favor to ask for you?"

"Go ahead."

She put her hand to her stomach. "This child, this child was conceived by accident, as you know. And Andre and I can't give her the life she needs. We can't give her love. And we can't be a family like you and Adrian are." She was trying to look for words. "I want you and Adrian to take of my child, Rose."

Everyone was literally holding there breath as they waited for me to answer. I turned around and my eyes met Vera's. I motioned for her to come; she came instantly. "What is it, Rose?"

I turned back to Vera. "I would more than happy to take care of that baby but I have another on the way. Vera, here would be more than happy to care for this baby." Vera couldn't get pregnant anymore. They went a doctor that was a specialist for that and had told Vera that she had gone sterile.

It was the first time that I had seen her beg. "Oh, Rika! Would let me?"

"Yes, Vera. I would very thankful if you did!"

They hugged and it was weird looking at Rika do something that was not evil related once in her life. I smiled. I was happy for the first time in my life from this point. I was truly happy.

Adrian hugged me from behind and rested his hands on my stomach. I was now four months pregnant. Everything was going well to with the pregnancy, at least according to the doctor. With Ervin the thing that I craved the most when I was pregnant with Ervin was spaghetti, with Taylor it was the ice cubes, and now with this one it was Yogurt and ice cream. I got morning sickness once and then I never got it.

I leaned my head against Adrian's shoulder and sighed.

There was another knock on the door. Sara went to go answer it. "Hey, Matt! You're just in time for the family reunion!"

His eyes went directly to me. "So he is your husband?"

"Apparently." I said, letting go of Adrian and sitting down because my feet were starting to grow. Adrian came to sit next to me. "You got a problem with that?" I asked, getting mad already.

"No, I—

He broke off. He was staring at Rika, openmouthed, and she was staring back. They looked at each other for a while and he said, "Avrika . . ."

"Matt, um, no I am Rika."

"Lie to me all you want, I still would know that you are Avrika." He came to her and gripped her arms. "Why did you leave me and Andy?" He demanded. He was gripping her so hard that it looked like it hurt. Andre stepped as if to pull her away. She just stood there, lost in Matt's eyes. "Why did you do it, Avrika?" He said through gritted teeth.

Big, fat tears leaked from her eyes. "I had to do it, Matt, I had to do it."

"Why? Tell Me. Please, explain because I am not getting you." Matt said, although a little bit calmer.

"Your parents," she said.

"What about my parents?"

"They made me leave. That entire 'accident scene' it was all made up by them."

"How so?"

"Your parents never wanted me for you. Just like mine never like you. When I was carrying Andy inside of me they thought it as a curse rather than a blessing."

He looked hurt and miserable. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because they threatened me. They said they would take me back to my parents."

Paul cleared his throat. "Ah, guys, we'll leave you alone so that you guys can talk."

"No, no. We are the ones who need to leave." Matt said, standing up and taking Rika's hand. They left in less than ten seconds.

"That was weird." Andre said. He turned to me and grinned mischievously. "So I see Adrian created another sin in you."

I tried not to smile but I failed. "What makes you think that?" I said, sarcastically.

He smiled but didn't answer. His smile faded soon. "I am really sorry that I helped Rika break up something so special. I watched how you and Adrian loved each other and I couldn't help but covet it. I always wanted that, you see, a good wife and a good family. I thought I would have that with Rika but no. All I had was a hellish wife and kid that wasn't even mine." He looked utterly sad.

Since I was a nice, motherly woman now, I tried to cheer him up. But Adrian beat me to it. "Andre, one day you will have all this. The perfect woman, the perfect family. It will come soon, though before you know it."

I was going to add more but my Droid phone vibrated. "Hello?"

"Rose, hey. How's it going?" Said an all too familiar voice.

"Sydney! Oh my god! It's been forever since I talked to you! I've been good how have you been?"

"Good, good, Rose. Your dad told me where you were and then I flew over here. I was wondering if you could come pick me up from the airport?"

"Which airport? The huge one or the small one?"

"The one closet to your house."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can!"

"Alright, thank you, Rose!" We hung up.

"I am so excited." I grabbed Adrian's hand and Ervin and Taylor. "Come on! Let's go to the airport!"

"Why?" Adrian asked, once we were out the door.

"I want you to meet someone." I was really excited; it didn't take a real genius to know that. Adrian drove my new Audi to the airport. I was practically jumping up and down in my seat. . .

We arrived to the airport in less than ten minutes. That was fast. What was not fast was that airport traffic that always was accumulated here. I spotted Sydney leaning up against the wall. She looked very calm. Adrian parked on the curb and I ran out of the car. I hurried up to her and hugged her.

"Rose!" Sydney said, as I tackled her into a bear hug.

"Sydney!"

My stomach was in the way. She looked down. "Ooh, what's this?"

"Really, you have to ask?" I smiled and grabbed her hand. "Come on." I led her to the car.

"No, Rose, really when did you get this?"

"Like four months or so by my husband."

"Oh, Rose! I can't believe you're married! I am glad, though."

"Me, too." I said, as we hopped in the car. "Before, you say anything, I want you to meet my husband. Adrian Ivashkov." I motioned to Adrian and motioned back to Sydney. "Adrian, this is Sydney. And these are my kids. Ervin and Taylor."

Sydney said hi to the kids. "They are so cute!" Adrian took out his hand. Sydney took it. Her eyes were wide open, I knew why. Adrian needed so little to impress people; he had all those looks to make people like him immediately. She turned her eyes on me. "Damn, Rose. . ."

I laughed. "I know." I mouthed at her.

I asked lots of questions as we drove back to our house. Questions like, how long are you going to stay or how was your flight; good questions.

She looked out the window. "I could stay as long as I want to stay; I was assigned to you by your dad. And plus, I was kicked of the 'alchemy business.'"

"Well, even better. I would love to have you around forever. You know what, you can become this baby's nanny!" All of us laughed at that.

"Jeez, Rose. I really missed that humor of yours!" She said, recalling the good day of when we were in Dimitri's hometown.

We arrived to the house in less time than we had needed to go to the airport. I unbuckled Ervin's seat and Taylor's seat. Adrian helped Sydney with her luggage. We walked up the stairs and inside my house. Sydney looked a little freaked of being surrounded by so many creatures of the night.

"Everyone, this is Sydney."

Everyone muttered hellos and nice to meet you. All except Andre who stared at Sydney like a blind mind would stare at the sun for the first time. Like Dimitri and Yaritza looked at each other when they first met. Like Adrian looked at me all the time. . .

I turned on the light and kicked my shoes off as I entered my room.

I moaned as my feet made contact with the very light, soft rug of my penthouse. The bed looked extremely inviting. I wanted to throw myself on there already. I took off my gray coat and slipped of my dress. Underneath, I wore my favorite sleeping clothes; shorts and a tank top. I saw Adrian undress from the corner of my eye. I made a quick trip to the bathroom for teeth brushing and a fast peeing trip. When I walked out, Adrian was already under the covers. He pulled the covers back as I slid into the covers to cuddle with him and finally fall asleep.

He put his arm around me and pulled me as close as possible, as close as my bloated stomach allowed. It was too cold inside the room; it was always cold here. I snuggled closer to him. Back then, I could survive the cold. But we in right now not back then. I tossed a leg around Adrian, surprised I was able to still do it.

One of his hands caressed my back, while the other stroked my cheek. My eyes had been closed but when his hands went to my cheek, my eyes opened. I really loved how is eyes shined with chaste love in the moonlight. His hand sneaked under my shirt and traveled from my back to my chest until it finally rested on my belly. With his touch, our baby moved. He rarely did anything to make the baby move, just simple touch made the baby move; I had to talk to the baby and do all sorts of things to make him/her move around.

"Okay so now you want to move? Why do you always move when your father touches you but not when your mother touches you?" Adrian chuckled as he felt the baby kick under his hand. All of a sudden, Adrian let go of me and laid me flat on my back. He got of the bed and went to go turn on the heater. "Thanks, we needed that." I said, as he slipped on the bed again.

Instead of covering us with the covers again, he pulled of my shirt. I felt goose bumps rise on my skin as the cold air hit me. "What was that for?" Adrian didn't answer. He came closer to me and placed his ear on my stomach. The baby went wild.

"Hey, baby. I can't wait till you come out." Adrian said, making the baby go even more wilder. Adrian chuckled and I laughed with him. I began stroking Adrian's hair because I couldn't stroke my stomach since his body was taking over.

I though about something. "Adrian, do you really love our kids?"

He looked at me like I was retarded and I immediately felt dumb for asking that question. "Why would you ask that? It's like asking if Pamela Anderson's boobs are real."

"I'm sorry. I know you do. I was just curious."

He nuzzled my stomach and talked to it again. "Baby, can you believe your mother? I already love you and you aren't even out!"

I was very happy. The baby inside me moved in response. I laughed softly as I heard what conversation Adrian and the baby were having. "Rose, the baby and I want to ask you something?"

I closed my eyes; I was so very tired. "Go ahead, Adrian, baby."

"Okay, my love. We want to know if you want to move in back with us. You know in that big house of ours where you said you wanted to raise our all of our kids? So do you want to move back in with me, Rose?"

I laughed, recalling that day when I told Adrian I was pregnant for the first time. I really had loved that house; it was so big. I loved all the fruit trees; I loved it all! "Yes, I would."

Adrian's face left my stomach and went to my face. He kissed my lips softly much the same as he had been kissing my stomach. Tenderly. His nose glided along my cheek until he rested his lips above my ear. "Thank you, my Rose. When do you want to go back?"

"I would say now but I am too tired to move anywhere." I said. I had to pee but I didn't want to move out of this position with Adrian. Then, the baby did a bad move hitting me in the bladder area; I really needed to go pee now. "Adrian, can you go pee for me?"

He laughed. "No, but I can take you." He got off me. He grabbed my hand and scooped my up in his hands.

"Whoa, I am surprised that you can carry me. I thought I was too heavy for that."

"Rose, never doubt my inability to do anything." He said.

He took me to the bathroom and I did my thing. After I was done, Adrian carried me back to bed. This time, it was to finally sleep. He threw me on top of his chest; it was really uncomfortable so I laid sideways on top of him. Although he wasn't doing what he had been doing before, he still kept his hand on my stomach.

"I have a question for you, little dhampir." He stopped only for a second. "What do you think I am really good at? Don't lie to me."

"What I think. . .hum. . . I think you are perfectly good at making babies." I said. See what you do of that!

I felt him chuckle under me. "What makes you think that? I mean, I didn't need reminders. I already knew that I was good at that. Just look at Ervin and Taylor. All gorgeous and beautiful."

"You said it. You are good because no other man could have helped me make preciously beautiful children. So what do you think I am good at?"

He kissed me on the lips. "You are good at everything, my love, everything." We fell asleep soon after that, his arms never leaving me. I heard him mutter I love you before I finally passed out completely.