Hello…I hope you guys like this chapter..it tore me up to write that whole good-bye scene…. :(

If you like it…please let me know….

Thank you for all your wonderful reviews…

As always….I own nothing….Richelle Mead does…except Ethan..:)

Terri

CHAPTER 45

ROSE'S POV

I slowly opened my eyes to the morning sun shining through the window. My thoughts immediately went to Adrian's dream visit last night.

I couldn't be pregnant, could I? I didn't feel any different, even though it would be way too early to notice anything. And, to be honest, I can't

remember off hand when I had my last period. I felt really tired lately, but with everything going on, traveling to Russia, and all the drama, it was

too be expected.

Ethan was only a week away from turning 6 months old. Jesus, if I were pregnant now, that would be a lot for us to handle. It's not like I wouldn't be happy. But, Wow!…

I wasn't going to worry about it until I got home and figured out the dates. I had other things to worry about,.. the fact that Ethan and I

had to say good-bye to Dimitri's family in less than 4 hours. I dreaded to leave them knowing it may be the last time I ever see them again.

I hated to do it, but it was Olena's request. I loved her and respected her too much to not oblige her wishes.

I lay there with random thoughts dominating my mind when I instantly jumped out of bed, as the smell of Olena's jam filled blini permeated by nose.

I threw on my robe and ran down the stairs towards the kitchen.

Olena turned to the ruckus I was making, smiling at me. "Good morning, Roza. I take it your hungry?"

I gave her a.. 'are you serious' …look. "For your cooking? Always…" I sat down at the table. "What will I do without your wonderful cooking?"

She turned, handing me the plate of blini with a sad expression on her face. "I will have to give you the recipe."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "Me..cook? Don't think so!..Besides, I think I would rather you continue to make them for me." I was hoping that she would change her mind about her request.

"Maybe someday." She said while she changed the subject. "What time are you and Ethan leaving?" I knew in that instant, she hadn't.

"Pavel will be driving us to Novosibirsk in a few hours. Where is Ethan?" He was being so spoiled by everyone. I swear he hasn't been put down since we've arrived.

"Everyone is in the backyard with him. Viktoria has him on a blanket trying to encourage him to crawl." She stated with a proud smile on her face.

"Oh yeah!…And how is our boy doing with that?" I smiled back at her.

"Whenever you're done eating we can go outside with everyone and see his progress. Yeva had something she wants to give you before you leave."

I raised my eyes from my plate. "Okay…I will be done in a minute."

"Don't rush. I will be out back with the others. Come out to join us when you are done." She smiled again and walked out the door.

I watched her walk out the door. It was going to be so hard to say good-bye to them. I suddenly felt queasy at the thought. I pushed away my plate, got out of my chair, and walked towards the door.

I knew I was going to lose it, especially when it came to leaving Olena. I loved her so much.

"Watch this, Rose." Viktoria called out to me, shaking my thoughts.

There was my Ethan. His brown hair was getting long, big, beautiful, brown eyes, and those two little white teeth showing when he smiled. My baby was gorgeous, just like his dad. He never looked more like Dimitri

than he did right now at this moment. I had to smile as I watched him up on all fours, rocking back and forth. He was trying to crawl. I was so glad Dimitri's family was here to share in this moment. God knows they will miss

so many others. It was then Ethan started to crawl and then he fell. Everyone rushed towards him, but he just laughed that sweet laugh of his. We all started clapping for him as he tried again. He gave us the brightest smile.

I couldn't help to laugh at my thoughts. He may look like his dad, but he acted like me. What a little ham…!

"It seems as though we have a little performer in our family. He must have gotten that from his father." I said, jokingly.

Everyone turned to look at me. I knew the words I just used opened the floor for the dreaded good-bye scene.

Sonya and Karolina were the first to walk to me. "Roza, I can't stay here and watch you leave. My heart is broken. You will always be my syestra. No matter how much time passes between us. I love you, Rose."

Sonya was nodding her head in agreement the whole time Karolina spoke.

They pulled me into a tight embrace as we stood there holding onto each other. Viktoria walked over to join the group hug. My heart was breaking. I hated to go, but I knew I had no choice.

"Good- bye, Syestra. I will miss you so much." Viktoria said as she kissed my cheek. She walked away with the others.

Paul was holding Zoya's hand as they walked up to me. Paul looked up at me with those brown eyes identical to Dimitri's. "Bye Aunt Roza. I will miss you."

I leaned down and hugged him. "I will miss you too!"

Zoya, who is almost 3, with gorgeous, brown ringlet curls, and matching brown eyes kissed my cheek. She whispered in her sweet little voice. "I love you, Aunt Roza." I couldn't handle it any longer as the tears flowed freely from my eyes.

Olena stood with Ethan in her arms as she and Yeva walked with me into the house. Yeva sat down on the couch and summoned me to sit with her. She rarely had shown any emotions in the past, but something was different about today.

I sat down with her, noticing the three items she had beside her. First, she called Olena over with Ethan. "Roza, this was Dimitri's bracelet that he wore as a small child. It is made from leather and ivory tusk and the craving in the tusk is meant to

protect him as he grows. I was hoping I could give it to his son someday and here he is before us. May I put it on Ethan?"

"Of course." I was honored she was giving this to him.

"Also, this was Dimitri's favorite toy growing up and I want Ethan to have it too. It is a matryoshka doll. A traditional russian toy." It was shaped in little frogs and they stacked in one another.

"Thank you so much, Yeva."

"Roza, You need to listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. Take extra special care of this child. He will be very powerful and you will need to guide him in the right direction. Allow Ethan to make his own difficult choices and the outcome will be rewarding.

But, you will have to face great sadness to recover with true happiness. Trust in your heart…it will never lead you wrong." She took my hand into hers and slid a beautiful silver ring with an reddish orange stone in the center, on my finger.

"This is mine. A carnelian stone, it is meant to ward off evil. It will protect you in your life's journeys, Roza."

'Yeva, I can't."

She patted my hand with her very old one. "Yes, you can. I am afraid that this will be the last time I will ever see either of you. For when young Ethan finds his way back home…I will have moved on to somewhere wonderful. I will have crossed to my

eternal home. Somewhere my beloved grandson has not traveled yet. He cannot because it was before his time when he perished. You make him very happy by being such a wonderful mother to his son. Roza, Believe in the unbelievable. Ya veryu v tebya."(I believe in you.)

She kissed me and pulled me into a tight embrace as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Yeva, thank you…for everything. We will see each other again."

She smiled at me and stood up to kiss Ethan. "Ya veryu v tebya." (I believe in you) She whispered against his cheek.

Olena smiled at Pavel as he grabbed our bags to put them in the car. "Olena, I hate to leave you." I cried.

She wrapped an arm around me while still holding onto Ethan. "Roza, I am here. You can call me anytime."

"It won't be the same." I disagreed.

She squeezed me tighter. "Ya tak lyublya tebia." (I love you so much) She kissed my forehead.

"I love you too!"

She then looked at Ethan. "Ty poslana mne bogom…Angel moy." (You were sent to me from God. My Angel.) She laid a gentle kiss to his cheek as tears fell from her eyes.

"Please take care of this precious child and yourself. Good bye, Roza." She started to cry.

"I will….I promise." I took Ethan in my arms and walked out the door.

I strapped Ethan in his seat, got in the front, and Pavel drove away. The tears streamed down my face as I watched them wave good-bye.

"Rose, are you okay?" Pavel had asked.

"No. But, what choice do I have."

"I know that sometimes life isn't fair with the choices we have to make. But, it will get better. It always does." Pavel gave me a sideward glance.

"I know…It still hurts all the same." We sat in a comfortable silence until we reached the plane.

I put Ethan in his seat then I took mine beside him. It was at that point, the pilot came over the speaker and made his announcement. In less than 12 hours, I would be back home with Adrian.

ADRIAN'S POV

It was 11:30 when I started on my way to Abe's office. I should know the way since I've taken this route a million times in my life. He decided to keep the same office as Tatiana.

I knocked on his door. "Come on in, boy." God, I hated when he called me that. I was 23 years old for Christ's sake.

"What's going on, Abe?" I questioned.

"Nothing much, just finishing up some details here. Have a seat." Abe pointed to table with lunch already set on it.

I took my seat and waited for him to finish. I had no damn clue what he wanted. I was so nervous, maybe he wasn't satisfied with Rose's probation punishment and he wanted to set his own example with me.

"What's wrong, Adrian? You look green." I didn't know what was wrong because I was feeling sick, upset for some strange reason, but yet there was nothing really wrong with me.

"Nothing..I am fine. So, What's up?"

Abe raised his eyebrow at me. I don't think he likes to be rushed, but I just want to get on with whatever we are getting on with.

"So, Before you left for Russia, you said you were going through changes. I was wondering if you have noticed anything new?"

I was really confused about his line of questioning. I became more nervous. " Why? You don't think I am turning Strigoi or something, Do you? Because I am not."

"Christ no, boy! Are you paranoid or something? I am merely curious."

"Well, yeah. While I was in Russia. Rose and I were stalked and attacked by two Strigoi."

Abe yelled as he interrupted me. "What? Where the fuck was Pavel?"

Oh shit! Great! Like I want fucking Pavel pissed off at me. "Rose and I told him that we needed some privacy and really we didn't give him much of a choice. We left while he was occupied."

"What happened with the Strigoi?" Abe asked, dismissing the Pavel thing.

"I heard them approach before Rose did."

"Heard them? Rose senses them and from a small distance. How was your senses any different from hers, distance wise?"

"I heard their thoughts before we could even see them. It took them 5 minutes to get to us."

"No shit! Really? What did you hear?" Abe was getting excited about something. With him you never know what you're gonna get.

"I heard their impending attack on Rose. Where their hide-out was…Oh and the strange thing was they thought I was Strigoi too!"

"What the hell? Serious….? This makes my plan even better. I have even more use for you now. Plus with proper training, who knows what the hell you'll be capable of."

"Whoa…Back up..Plan? What plan? And what training? Are you trying to kill me, Abe?" I gave a nervous laugh.

Abe became serious. "If I wanted you dead, Adrian. You would be dead already." Shit, old man was totally not joking. So, I kept my mouth shut.

"Jesus, boy. I was talking about your new changes. You are special."

"Thank you. If only mom could see me now." I had to say it.

"Shut up, Adrian! Do you always have to be a pain in my ass?" He said, jokingly.

"No, seriously Abe. What about my changes and your plan?"

"When I assumed my position again. Pavel and I were discussing the need for some kind of Elite Guardian Force, if you will, only the best. There are too many Strigoi and now, with some Moroi wanting to fight

along side their guardians. Well, we want to set up training for those individuals. You could organize it with Pavel..You are obviously capable to infiltrate within the Strigoi hide-outs and relay the information to the task force.

The Strigoi will think you're one of them, it's perfect."

"WHOA! It happened one time. I don't know if it will necessarily happen again. And besides, I don't think I am qualified to run such an organization. Are you forgetting who I am? I never finished college for christ's sake. Hell, I never

follow through with anything. I mean except for Rose and Ethan and shit, I always seem to be screwing up there too! I think you are trying to kill me.." My voice slightly shaking from the anxiety surging through me.

"Settle down. Take a breath, boy! You will be trained before we do anything. It will be good for you. Plus, you can't have your woman tougher than you. It doesn't look good."

I knew he was trying to make a joke. But, shit. I am scared to do this. Anything could go wrong.

"Abe, I will think about it. That is all I can give you right now."

"I will give you one hour and I'll be expecting a yes."

"Are you serious?" I choked on my drink.

"Yes. This is a wonderful opportunity for you. Besides, Rose is the future ruler. Do you want to be responsible for a revolution?" He had me…that prick.

"No…I accept your proposal. But, if something happens to me. My family better be taken care of." I demanded.

"I wouldn't let anything happen to you. It would devastate Rose too much. Rose and her family is my first priority, and that includes you. Now, Shut up and eat your food." Abe said with all seriousness.

I hope you liked it..Please let me know..

Thanks, Terri :D