Had time to type and wanted to let Rose and Liss have their conversation. :D
Disclaimer: Vampire Academy is the property of Richelle Mead... In other words, not mine.
"Rose?" Lissa whispered, elation filling her.
"Lissa," I squealed happily, running to hug her.
"Oh my God, I'm so happy to see you!" She hugged me tightly, squealing a little. This had to have been Dimitri's surprise. He was so amazing. He took me back to the Academy to let me see my best friend one more time before we had to leave for a while. "You're back! Are you staying?"
I took a deep breath, knowing fully well that I was about to crush her. "No, Liss, I can't stay."
"But you said you were leaving for a year or so. And why did you even leave in the first place?"
"I had to find Dimitri," I told her.
"Well, did you?" she demanded, idly playing with a piece of her hair.
What did I say to that? Yes, but he's a Strigoi? I don't think that would go over too well. I shrugged instead.
"Well, why a year?"
I felt a goofy grin take over my face. I was going to be the mother of Dimitri's child - Dimitri's child. My child. Dimitri's child. Our child. It was all so surreal.
"What?" Lissa asked impatiently.
"I'm gonna have a baby," I whispered, still grinning stupidly. I couldn't seem to shake the smile.
Lissa's eyes widened severely. "What?"
I nodded. "It's Dimitri's."
All right. Now she looked like she was going to gag or something. "What? I mean, I didn't think that you . . . and him . . . but . . ." she stammered.
I reached out and squeezed my best friend's hand. "It's okay, Liss. Yeah, we did. The night when Jesse and Ralf were throwing things at you. We didn't mean to, but oh God, Liss, and it just -"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. So you're having Dimitri's child?" I nodded. "Well, did he know?"
"He does know." I couldn't help the words. Her eyes widened.
"You found him?"
"Uh-huh." In fact, he was only a few hundred feet away from us.
"Well, is he...?"
I knew what she was asking. I hated admitting to my best friend that the love of my life was a Strigoi. "Lissa, please don't tell Christian. Nobody can know."
She gasped, and rage flowed through her. "You can't be serious, Rose!" she hissed. "He's a Strigoi. He's not safe; you know that."
"I know. But he's lucid. He knows me. He hasn't hurt me." I deliberately left out the first time he fed from me. That didn't really count anyway. It was the first time anything like that had ever been attempted.
"So what does he do? Does he run off and kill people to feed?" she asked bitterly, scowling at me.
"Come on, Lissa, don't you know me? I wouldn't let him hurt people like that."
"So then what do you do?" she asked, crossing her arms.
I shifted. "Remember when we were on our own?" This was the only way that I could make it seem okay to her.
"Of course." Realization dawned on her features and flowed through her body. "That's not the same!" she insisted hotly.
"Yes, it is," I retorted. "He has to feed, and he doesn't hurt anyone."
"He's a Strigoi, Rose. He can't be trusted."
"I trust him. Lissa, think about it. How would you feel if everyone forbid you from seeing Christian because he's dangerous? It's the same thing with me and Dimitri."
She hated the idea of not being able to be with Christian, but she was still skeptical about Dimitri's control. "Whatever, Rose."
I smirked as I felt the curiosity coming from her. "You want to know if I'm telling the truth, don't you?"
"No," she snapped. But our bond gave her away.
"Liss, I can feel your emotions. I know you're lying to me."
She glared at me. "Shut up, Rose. I have to go back. But thanks for telling him to bring you here." She hugged me quickly and started to head back toward the Academy.
I chuckled. "Liss, he brought me here. I didn't tell him to do anything. He knew I missed you. Don't thank me, thank him." I felt shock come from her and smiled wryly. "I told you he's the same."
She stared at me with wide eyes. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious. I'll see you in a few months, Lissa."
"Bye, Rose," she whispered. I turned around, walking the direction I had come from. I hated arguing with my best friend, but I couldn't stand losing Dimitri.
Dimitri was waiting for me where I'd left. He had a worried expression in his eyes, but his stance was casual. "Did you have fun with Lissa?" he asked, his eyes flickering over my face.
"Yeah, I did. That was the best surprise ever. Thank you so much, Dimitri. I love you."
He smiled, hugging me gently. "I love you, too, Roza. I heard what you said to Lissa . . . about trusting me. Did you mean it?"
"Of course I did," I whispered. "I do trust you, Dimitri. I promise."
His eyes lit up. "Thank you for trusting me when I didn't trust myself."
"You're welcome."
He took my hand and kissed it lightly. "You're my life, Rose. I don't know what I would do without you." I was silent as I took that information in. He couldn't really mean that. He could do anything he wanted. He didn't need me around.
But I needed him around. I needed him to help me raise this baby. And as long as he stayed, I would cherish every moment I got with him.
Yay, fluff!! Fluff is so . . . fluffy. Lol.
Review, pwease? Pwetty pwease?
- J.C.
