Hello Everyone...Hope you enjoy this chapter!
I will be including the birth in this story...so, we are 6 or so chapters away.
If you like it..please review.
Thanks for all your kind reviews... :D
As always..I don't owe VA.
Terri
Chapter 47
ROSE'S POV
It felt so good to be home in my own bed. I slowly opened my eyes, only to see that Adrian's side of the bed was empty.
I could hear him talking out in the other room. So, I got out of bed to go see who he was babbling to.
I stood at the entry way to our living room to see him on the floor with Ethan. They were both laughing as Ethan was showing his daddy his new moves.
"Has Ethan decided to show you his new trick?" I asked.
Both Adrian and Ethan turned to my voice.
"Hey baby. How did you sleep?" Adrian still had that gleam in his eye and the dazzling smile on his face.
"I slept great. It's good to be home." He gave me a knowing smile. "So, is our boy showing off for you, daddy?"
"Yeah..He is. When did he start to crawl?" Adrian questioned.
"Actually, he did it for the first time yesterday in front of everyone before we left."
"I am sorry I missed the first time." He gave a small, sad grin.
"This is only the second time he's done it. Plus, just think how many other firsts you'll get…. Look at the way he's staring at you."
We both looked at Ethan. He was laughing at Adrian with those little teeth showing. I had to smile every time he gave that silly grin.
Adrian and I both burst out laughing and it only made Ethan show off even more.
"Are you hungry?" Adrian asked me. The man has been with me over a year and you would think he'd know the answer to that question.
I gave him the 'are you crazy' look. As I started to walk towards the kitchen he caught my arm and pulled me onto his lap. "I will make you something."
"Adrian, I am pregnant, not an invalid. Besides, you will spoil me. I will make you and Ethan breakfast."
I went to get up, but he held me in place. "We boys already ate. We want to make mommy breakfast. Don't we buddy?" Ethan squealed at him as if he understood what he was saying. "You're a smart little guy, huh?"
"Do you realize we are going to have two babies in this house under the age of two? Holy shit, Adrian."
He pressed his lips to my forehead. "Yep, we are going to be busy, that's for sure... I can't wait."
I gave him a grin. "Are you going to be a stay at home dad when I become a Guardian again?" I felt Adrian instantly tense up underneath me.
"What? You are not serious, are you?" His eyes stared into mine and I knew what they were trying to convey to me.
"Well, not right now… Maybe when the children go to school. It's a long time from now. But, I will need to do something. Adrian, I was never meant to stay at home all day. It's not how I am made, equipped."
I could see the worry written all over his face. "What? Just say it." I demanded of him.
"Rose, I need to tell you something." Oh shit..I can't take another bombshell. I would probably knock him out if it involves another woman. I just looked at him, bracing for the news.
"You're dad didn't want me to tell you." He started to say.
"He didn't want you to tell me what?" I swear my dad really was a snake sometimes.
"He offered me a job." Adrian took a deep breath. I think he was nervous to tell me.
I raised my eyebrows with some serious curiosity. "What kind of job, Adrian?"
"He wants me to help develop and run a joint Guardian/ Moroi type task force that can infiltrate Strigoi hide-outs. Then, the decoy will report the information back to the team so they can take out the Strigoi packs." He rushed it all out in one long breath, bracing
for my reaction.
"Infiltrate?" I asked as my blood started to boil because I knew what my dad was asking.
"Yes." Adrian answered honestly.
With my voice slightly rising, I asked. "Who's the decoy, Adrian?"
He looked at me and swallowed hard before answering. "I am."
I lost it. "Like hell you are. Have both of you lost your fucking minds?"
"Rose, calm down." Adrian pleaded.
I jumped to my feet. "No, I won't. We just found out that we are having a baby and you want to go into the lion's den. We don't even know if that was a fluke or whatever. What if you get killed Adrian? Where does leave me, Ethan, and this child I am
carrying. Shit Adrian! Why don't you ever think?"
He grabbed me by my shoulders. "Rosemarie. Calm.. the.. hell.. down. I am not having you upset like this. I will talk to your dad."
I interrupted him. "Fuck that…I will talk to him…NOW!"
Adrian held a tight grip on me. He really was a lot stronger than he ever was. "We will talk to him later, together. Besides, Lissa and Christian will be knocking on the door within five seconds."
I looked at him, astounded. "How did y…" There was a knock at the door.
"I heard them. Now, are we telling them the great news? Or are we waiting?"
"Yes, we can tell them. Why didn't I sense Lissa coming?" I was so aggravated at this point.
"I don't know babe. I am going to answer the door." He kissed the tip of my nose and walked to the door.
I figured I probably didn't sense her because I was so upset. Adrian opened the door for Lissa and Christian to come in.
"Rose, I missed you so much." Lissa said as she embraced me.
"Hey Liss! I missed you too!" A sudden calmness came over me as a warm rush ran through my body.
Christian walks right past us and doesn't say hello or anything to Adrian and I. He went right to Ethan and picked him up.
He turned to face me while holding Ethan in his arms. "Hathaway, you are never allowed to leave with this child that long ever again. Understood?"
I laughed out loud. "Were you having Ethan withdraws, Fireball?"
"Hell yeah! He's the only sane one around this damn place. Who else can I confide in? Tell all my dreams, lifelong ambitions, and my desires. Huh, little guy?"
"My baby doesn't need to hear your desires, Flamer."
"You love your uncle Chris, tell them." Ethan started laughing showing off that new smile of his.
"My little man got some choppers. Wonder if he will get fangs?" Everyone got silent and looked at Christian. "What?..Oh Shit! I didn't mean anything by that." He started rambling.
"Christian, it's alright. I know you didn't mean anything. And we don't know what will become with Ethan in that respect. It's a waiting game. Adrian says that his aura has changed."
Lissa looked to Adrian in shock. "What are you seeing?"
"Actually, I didn't get a chance to talk to you about it this morning, Rose. But, it's gold with strange silver streaks that runs through it. I've never seen silver in an aura. I don't know what it means."
"Gold?" Lissa questioned. "Is Ethan a spirit user?"
Adrian nodded. "It appears that way."
"Lissa, Christian, Adrian…I am getting some juice. Do you guys want anything?" They all looked up at me.
"No thanks." They answered.
Adrian walked over to me. "Babe. Please sit down. I will get you some juice."
"Adrian…." I protested before I sat on the couch beside Lissa.
Lissa glanced at me as Adrian walked into the kitchen. "What's going on?" She knew something was up..She knew me too well.
I gave a slight shake of my head. "We will talk about it when he comes back in. Anyways, are you up for some shopping today? We are leaving for the Grand Caymans next week and I need a new bathing suit."
It was then Adrian came walking back in the room. "Get something skimpy and red."
"You're a pervert and yes, Rose, I will go shopping with you today."
"Are you feeling okay to go shopping, Rose?" Adrian asked while handing me the glass of juice.
"Yes, I am fine. You can't keep babying me like this. You will drive me crazy and it will be a long nine months." I scolded him.
Lissa and Christian gaped at both of us. "What are you guys talking about?" Lissa asked as I felt 5 different emotions rush through the bond. Worry, nervousness, confusion, sadness, and excitement.
They were a real strange combination of emotions. I would have to ask her later what they meant.
Adrian sat down beside me and wrapped his arm around me. "Guys…Rose and I have some wonderful news to share with you." I knew he was bursting to tell them. "We are expecting a baby."
I felt more sadness rush through Lissa then any other emotion.
"Congratulations, Rose and Adrian." Lissa said as she hugged both of us.
Christian started laughing. "Damn, you guys are like two little bunnies. Way to replenish the shrinking Dhampir population." We all glared at him again.
"It's a joke..Lighten the hell up... Seriously, congratulations. I am jealous..I can't wait to have kids." He looked at Lissa with a sparkle in his crystal blue eyes.
There went the sadness again. What the hell was up with her?
"I guess that means no alcohol for me on our trip."
"Hell no…" Adrian was the first to speak, of course.
"I was joking. Anyhow, who is all going? Lissa weren't you handling everything?" I asked her.
"Yeah..Mia and Eddie, Pavel and Abe, not as a couple." We all started laughing. It was like there was some kind of weird coincidence when there was a knock at our door.
I saw panic on Adrian's face. "Rose, your dad is here and it's not the time for our discussion, okay?"
I crossed my arms and gave him a hard look. "Whatever Adrian. But, he is hearing about it later."
Adrian opened the door for my dad and Pavel. "Hey boy!" Abe said to Adrian.
I knew Adrian hated when he called him boy. "Abe, you do know I am 23 years old, right?"
Abe gave him a look. "Yeah! What's your point?"
"Are you ever going to quit calling me boy?" Adrian asked with utter seriousness.
Abe gave him another look. "Yes, when you've earned it. And, frankly, you haven't shown me anything….yet."
Oh…my dad was so asking for it from me. "Really, dad? And what does he have to do to earn it?" Adrian shot me a glare.
"Hey kiz….Give your dad a hug."
I stood up and hugged him as I held him I growled in his ear. "You and I have something to discuss, old man."
He laughed as he whispered back. "Ah! I look forward to that chat." We pulled apart as I gave him a knowing, pissed off look.
Dad turned to Christian. "Give me my grandson." They acted like two little kids fighting over their favorite toy.
"You two can share him. God…you guys really can be a pain in my ass." I rolled my eyes at them.
Christian handed Ethan to Abe. "Hey buddy..Buyukbaba missed you."
We were completely taken by surprise with what Ethan did next. "Baba." He squealed to Abe.
Abe started laughing. "Did you hear that?….He said grandpap, first."
He looked at Adrian and smirked. "Sorry about your luck boy. He must like me more than you."
Adrian shook his head while resting his hand on my stomach. "It's alright..maybe this one will say dada first."
Abe glanced at us with his eyebrow raised sharply. "Yes, dad. Adrian and I are having a baby."
"Here Ozera, it's must be your lucky day..hold the baby for a..second." Chris took Ethan from Abe while rolling his eyes.
My dad walked to me. "My kiz…You're having another baby? That's wonderful…Who's the father?" I punched his arm. "Dad, stop it. Why do you torture Adrian so much?"
He smiled as he pulled me into a tight squeeze. "I love you, Rosemarie. You make me proud everyday." He kissed my hair.
My dad shook Adrian's hand. "You're a fine young man, Ivashkov."
Adrian's eyes glanced up to meet my dad's. "Wow! What changed?"
"For one, you stood up to me. You may be growing a set after all. And second, you and my kiz are giving me another grandchild. Congratulations."
Adrian raised his eyebrow. "Grow a set?...Nice Abe!"
"For gods sake..Would you two just kiss already." I said, rolling my eyes at them.
"Mama..dada.." Ethan stole the floor once again.
"Man, you're on a roll today little guy." Christian said to Ethan.
I looked at him in shock. "Did you just say mama, baby boy?" I cooed to him as I took him into my arms.
"Sorry Ade. He said mama first." I laughed to rub it in to him.
"Third time's the charm." He grinned back at me. "My little guy is smart. It must be because he is a spirit user. "
Lissa started laughing. "You're right, Adrian. We spirit user are pretty special."
Abe watched us like we were crazy. I had forgotten that he was not informed of our latest theory on Ethan. And he also didn't know that Dimitri was Ethan's biological father.
I am not quite sure how he is going to take the news knowing that I've hidden it from him for so long. But, he deserved to know the whole truth.
"What are you people talking about?" Abe quizzed.
I looked at dad. "Adrian has a theory that Ethan may be a spirit user."
"How is that even possible? Ethan is Dhampir…..Isn't he?" My dad gave me a hard look. I could see the wheels turning in his mind.
"Yeah..Why would you ask that?"
Christian cleared his throat. "I think Lissa and I are going to go. We will talk to you guys later."
He took Lissa's hand and started to pull her towards the door. "Rose, I will be back in a couple hours so we can go shopping."
"Okay Liss. I'll be here." The door shut behind them.
"Alright Rosemarie. I know you have something important to tell me. What is it?" Abe demanded. He really was a perceptive person.
I glanced to Adrian. "Adrian, if we are going to go through all these changes with Ethan with have to tell Dad everything. The complete truth. Maybe, he can help protect Ethan, if the time ever comes that he needs it."
Adrian sat down beside me. "Go ahead. I am here."
"Kiz, What the hell is going on? What do you mean protect Ethan?" Abe demanded with sharpness in his tone.
"Let me start by saying that I never intended to keep anything from you." He interrupted me.
"Rosemarie." He growled.
"GIVE ME A MINUTE, DAD! If you would not interrupt me this would go faster." I figured I was just going to say it, plain and simple. "Adrian is not Ethan's biological father."
Abe took a deep breath and signaled for me to move forward. "Dimitri Belikov is his father. When I left before graduation to search for Dimitri, well, I found him. I became pregnant when he was strigoi."
Abe's eyes widened and his face turned bright red. "Breathe Dad. It's not what you think."
I proceeded to tell him about the spirit infused ring and how he became so much like the man I loved.
After all this time, even now, when I speak of Dimitri, my heart aches for him. I knew it wasn't fair to Adrian, but it wasn't ever going to go away. No matter how much time passes.
"Whenever I was visiting the Belikovs', Yeva, Dimitri's grandmother, has a gift of foreseeing the future and she said that Ethan is going to be of great importance and so will mine and Adrian's future children. But,
she also warned that our society wouldn't understand and be frightened if they knew he was a product of a dhampir and a strigoi conception."
Abe finally interrupted. "NO ONE will ever hurt this child. I would protect him with my dying breath. You can believe that." His eyes searched mine for the absolute truth. "Rose, Have you noticed any changes in him
yet?"
"Nothing other than the whole aura thing. Oh..and he seems to understand what you're saying to him, but maybe that's normal. I don't know."
"Well, I suggest we continue to keep this all secret for now. I knew something was a miss when Tatiana mentioned Belikov in the garden. Also, I wondered about your visit to Russia. But, it wasn't my place to ask. I am glad you told me. Thank you.
Now, what is it that you warned me about…our discussion."
Adrian let out an exaggerated breath. "Rose…" He whined.
"You told her about my plans….haha..see, you're learning, Adrian. It is better to have me mad at you at this point than Rosemarie. She's hormonal."
"Really, Dad? I am pissed at you. What the hell are you thinking? Are you trying to kill Adrian or something?"
"Jesus Christ, you two are so dramatic. No, he will be fine. Also, he starts training after we get back from The Cayman's. We are still leaving next Friday, right?" He just brushed off my concerns.
"DAD…I am serious. Adrian is not equipped for this."
Adrian interrupted me. "Babe, with all due respect….I don't think that's a fair statement. You don't think I am man enough to do this job?" I could read the hidden message behind his statement.
I could see that my dad was proud of Adrian at this moment, that he was taking a stand.
I couldn't hold Adrian back if this is what he really wanted, no matter the risks. "No, I think with the proper training….You would do great." I pressed my lips to his for a brief second.
I glared at my dad and walked into the bedroom to get changed.
"I've pissed her off." Adrian said to Abe.
Abe rested his hand on Adrian's shoulder. "No, you didn't. She is just scared. But, you'll be fine. I know it. Well, I better go. I will need you to come by the office Monday. We need to start setting things up before we leave."
Abe and Pavel walked out the door.
I hope you liked it! I was a tad long.. :D
Please review me...Terri
