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Terri

Chapter 55

Adrian's POV

We have been married for 5 1/2 months and not much has changed, except for Rose's size. She was huge. I would never admit it to her because, well, she would kick my ass. But, in all seriousness, she was beautiful.

The twins were due in a month and with multiple births, we could have them at any time. As we were lying in bed, I rolled to my side and rested my hand on Rose's belly.

"Hey skinny…How are you feeling today?" I smiled at her.

"Don't start with me, Ivashkov. I am hormonal and I could snap at any minute. And remember my dad is king…I could kill your ass and get away with it." Rose glared at me and I didn't know if she was serious or not. So, I decided to hell with it..I was going to push my luck anyways.

I looked at her with false hurt. "What? I just wanted to tell you how radiant you look today."

She gave me an 'are you crazy' glance. "Adrian, I am fat and miserable. I can't wait to have the twins and I am never getting pregnant again. Hell, you'll be lucky if I ever have sex with you again." Rose pouted, she definitely was tired and I felt so bad for her.

I, on the other hand, was feeling much better. I could feel her discomfort, but I was no longer sick. I was tired, however that was only because of the strenuous training I have been going through lately. I get my ass handed to me on regular basis from Pavel.

I have to say that I have learned a lot and I have a new found respect for what guardians go through. Besides, my wife loves my new physique. I am definitely not built like I used to be. I have changed a great deal so, in the end, it's worth it.

I couldn't resist the need to provoke her even further. I tried to convey as much mock seriousness as possible in my expression as I leaned up on one elbow to stare directly into her eyes. "What? No sex? First, that would never happen. You can't resist me no matter how hard you try. Second, I was hoping

you could take a couple months off after this pregnancy and then we could try again. I want at least 8 kids."

She pointed at me. "Well, you better just find someone else to do it. I am done. " She was so cranky it was almost hilarious.

I started laughing as I tried to wrap my arms around her. "Nope, I only want you baby, even though you're huge. If you get any bigger, we may have to buy a new bed. Do they make anything bigger than a king size?"

"I really hate you Adrian. You can just take your ass to the couch then and I really hope you can feel my labor pains and I won't feel bad for you." I had started her on a war path.

I kissed her nose and started to sit up on the bed. "Well, just don't go in labor today..I will be training with Pavel. We have gotten information about a large strigoi convergence near St. Vladimir's Academy and we need to be prepared."

Rose instantly went on alert, too many bad memories at that particular place, where Strigoi were concerned. "Where at near St. Vladimir's?"

I knew I couldn't tell her yet. The locale would tear her apart and I was not dealing with the wrath of Rosemarie right now. I had decided when I left I would cowardly leave her a note about my location. I just tried to avoid her question, until..

"Adrian? Where are the Strigoi converging?" She demanded, gone was the desperation in her tone.

I kissed her forehead. "Babe, don't worry about it right now. Nothing is concrete yet. I promise I will let you know when the time is right."

"If my father puts you in a dangerous situation, I will kill him."

I sat on her side of the bed. "You could be put to death for saying that about your dad." I jokingly said to her.

"I am serious, Adrian." I knew she was, that's what worried me.

"Come on my little dhampir. Let me make you and Ethan breakfast before I leave." I pulled her up from the bed.

Rose's POV

Jesus, I can't even see my damn toes anymore and I waddle like a freakin' duck. I could kill Adrian for always teasing me. I secretly did wish he would feel my labor pains when the time came. He would so deserve it. But, I was getting

breakfast out of the deal, so I will let him off the hook this morning. My baby boy was in his chair already eating. I had to say Adrian was a wonderful dad. I am sure no one would have ever guessed him to be fatherly, but he truly is

amazing with Ethan and I am sure just as much with the twins when they arrive.

I kissed Ethan on his head. "Hi sweetie. How is momma's boy?"

He had just turned one a few weeks ago and he was walking, talking, and growing so fast. I was amazed everytime I looked at him. He looked like Dimitri more and more everyday. I was always waiting for the subject to come up, but it never has. I

guess it helped that Dimitri and I had similarities in the looks department; brown hair, brown eyes, and darker skin. I still secretly wished he was here to could see him growing up.

"Momma." Ethan squealed at me, turning my attention to him again. "Momma, big."

Adrian burst out laughing. "You put him up to that, didn't you?" I accused.

"No!" He said as if he were offended that I could even suggest such a thing.

"Momma, huge." He winked at Ethan as Ethan gave that ridiculously cute smile.

"You're both are going to be in so much trouble." I threatened with not much conviction.

"Here sweetheart. Eat your breakfast. I am leaving for work before you decide to kill me. I have my cell if you need me and please try to rest today. I love you both." Adrian pecked me quickly and than Ethan, before turning to walk out the door.

I hadn't told Adrian that I haven't been feeling myself for the last few days. I kept feeling like I was having contractions, but they were so irregular, I didn't think they were worth mentioning to him. He would probably go crazy with worry and he had enough on his mind.

I cleaned up the kitchen and than took Ethan out of his highchair so we could play together in the family room. We had spent a couple hours playing ball, reading him books, and he loved his little cowboy figures, how ironic.

Eventually, his little eyes got droopy and sleep found him. I sat there on the floor watching him sleep, wondering what wonderful dreams he was having. He was the most beautiful little boy I've ever seen and I never knew I could love someone as much as I loved him. Nothing meant more to me than Ethan.

I decided to just let him lay on his blanket and nap as I continued with cleaning up the house. I was making our bed when I heard Ethan let out a blood-curdling scream. My heart fell while panic rushed through my veins. What happened, oh god, not strigoi…...I would have sensed them, wouldn't I?

I dropped everything in my hands to run to him as fast as I could. I couldn't catch my breath when I saw the blood flowing fast from his head. I picked him up in my arms and saw that he had a long, deep gash above his eye. In a complete daze, I grabbed a cloth and applied pressure to

his wound. It was really bad. It was a real deep laceration. I picked up the phone while holding Ethan and frantically called Adrian.

"Rose…What's wrong?" He had already sensed that something had happened.

I yelled into the phone with sheer panic coursing through me. "Adrian…come home..NOW!" I could hear him running as he kept the phone to his ear. "Rose, what's happening? Are you hurt?"

"No." I cried. "It's Ethan."

"What about Ethan?" I heard the fear rushing from Adrian through his voice.

"I was in the bedroom and left him on the floor to nap and he must have woken up and fallen down when he came to look for me. Adrian, it's all my fault." I was sobbing and rushing my words together as I spoke.

"What is he doing now? Is that him I hear whimpering?…He is conscious, right? Don't let him go to sleep, Rose. I am outside our house now. I will be there in a minute baby. Hang on."

"Adrian, please hurry up." I was trembling with terror. Ethan has never been hurt before. I couldn't bear the fact of something bad happening to him. He was all I had left….of him.

Adrian came bursting through the door. "Give him to me, babe. Please move your hands . Let me see the wound." His eyes searched mine. I was shaking like I was convulsive. "Rose, sweetheart….I need you to calm down."

"Adrian, he's my baby. I can't calm down." I yelled at him.

"You have too! Now, let me have him." He raised his voice in a way he hasn't in a very long time. We were both beyond panicked.

Adrian's POV

I hated to use that tone with her, but for the sake of Ethan and the twins she really needed to calm down. I didn't want to admit it to her that Ethan looked pale. He was breathing and alert, but something seemed off.

I held him in my arms and tried to keep him awake. His eyes kept drooping like he wanted to sleep.

"Hey buddy…daddy wants you to stay awake. Listen to daddy, Ethan." He may only be one year old, but Ethan was very intelligent. He understood what I was saying to him.

"Dadda." He said groggily while I smiled at him.

"That's right, buddy. Did you hit your head, baby boy? Tell daddy if it hurts." He started to cry.

He was scared, poor little guy. I didn't want him to cry , but at this stage, it was the best sound I could hear. "Rose, I think I should take him to the hospital. I can look at it there. Maybe you should just stay here and try to remain calm?"

"No way in hell, Adrian." I knew there was no way she would stay home but I also knew she hasn't been feeling well and didn't want to admit it to me. She was so stubborn.


We had arrived at the hospital with Ethan going in and out of consciousness. Jesus christ..I was so scared ..I loved my son so much and I couldn't imagine losing him, ever.

"What happened?" Dr. Olendzki questioned.

"He fell and hit his head. Rose saw the wound and said it was a pretty deep, laceration. He keeps going in and out. I've been doing all I can to keep him awake."

Dr. Olendzki took him from my arms and he screamed for me, reaching his little arms towards me. "I have to be with him." I wasn't taking no for an answer and she knew it.

Abe had finally arrived with Pavel not far behind. "Rose, what's going on?" Abe asked.

Rose was trying to explain the whole situation to him in between her tears. "I am going back with Ethan. Abe? Please look after Rose. I will let you know what they find out." I walked back into the examination room with Olendzki.

The Doctor went to remove the cloth that was saturated with Ethan's blood. We weren't prepared for the two things that happened next; when the cloth was removed it appeared as though Ethan's wound was instantly repairing itself as soon as

it was subjected to the air. It was at least a three inch gash, which was indeed pretty deep. It started to close right before our eyes with only a small hair line scratch visible after only 30 seconds of time had passed. But, the worst part was that Ethan took a seizure and lost consciousness.

The Doctor was frantic, checking his pupils, and ordering a Cat scan. I couldn't do anything but stare at his aura. It seemed as though the silver and gold were conflicting with one another. Ethan was unlike anything I have ever seen before. He is one of a kind, an original. It seemed as though

his body was healing itself and like the gold aura, from being a spirit user, was trying to suppress the silver coloring. I didn't know what the silver color meant and it frustrated me. I couldn't help him.

Finally I lost it as I yelled at Dr. Olenzki. "What the hell is happening to my son?"

She tried to reassure me. "Sometimes after a brain injury the body will try to heal itself, by entering a self imposed hibernation, if you will, and since his wound repaired itself…well, maybe this is a defense mechanism within his genetic make-up. You are a spirit user, are you not, Lord Ivashkov?"

"I am. What do you mean brain injury? Is my son in a coma?" I demanded an answer. What the hell was she saying? My son was in danger from a simple fall. What the fuck is happening here?

"He may have bruised his brain when he fell. It is rare, but it can happen. We will do a Cat scan and keep him under observation. Is your son a spirit user?" She questioned me desperately hoping I would say yes.

"I believe he is…yes. I need to get Rose. She is pregnant. Can she be around a Cat Scan?" I was in a daze with words like; brain injury, bruised brain, coma, and having to tell my wife those frightening words. This will destroy her.

"It wouldn't advise it. But, you can go back with him. He wouldn't realize what's happening in his unconscious state. I will give you a few minutes to consult with Rose."

I walked out of the room to see nothing but devastation written on Rose's face. Oh god…how can I say this to her. I really didn't have to when she ran into my arms to only start sobbing. "What's going on, Adrian?"

As much as I hated to do it, I told her everything. Abe and Pavel were at her side in an instant as she collapsed. "Rose? Can you hear me, baby?" I begged her to answer me.

They had given us a private room, the one Ethan would be admitted to once his scan was done. We had put Rose on the bed to make her as comfortable as possible. Her eyes flew open. "Adrian, he isn't going to die, is he?"

"No, babe. He will be fine." God, I hoped so.

She grabbed onto my shirt. "It's all my fault. I wasn't with him. Adrian, it's all my fault." She kept sobbing over and over until I had to ask for them to sedate her. I hated to do it, but she really needed to calm herself down and she couldn't do it on her own will. I would definitely have hell to pay for

that one. I didn't want her to go into early labor and I know she will think I put the twins before Ethan. It couldn't be further from the truth. I have one child hurt in the hospital. I didn't need two more in the neonatal intensive care. I knew Rose though, it wouldn't matter what my thoughts were,

especially when it came to Ethan and we both knew why. I shook the thought from my head, walking to the Cat scan beside Ethan, who was in a metal crib. My heart was breaking to see him lying there, helpless. I've never hated myself more than I did in this moment, knowing I couldn't help my son.

We had all spent the night at the hospital, waiting for all the results. Rose held Ethan in her arms throughout the whole night, refusing to leave him for a second.

"Babe, you've got to be exhausted. Let me take him for a while." I tried with no avail for her to see reason.

"No, Adrian. I told you I have him." She pushed my hand away from him. I knew she was under stress that is why I didn't let her harsh demeanor insult me. I felt horrible for her. I could feel the pain radiating off of her.

I have never seen Rose so distraught and I had to be honest, at this juncture, I was worried for the twins. She couldn't continue like this much longer. It was then I noticed Ethan's aura. Rose must have taken notice as she glanced up at me.

"What are you seeing Adrian? Please tell me there isn't something wrong." Ethan had been in this coma like state for over twelve hours, not waking to eat or anything. Just a constant sleeping state. I finally let her question seep in as I answered her.

"His aura is coming back to it's original color. Gold with just streaks of silver. I think the Dr. was right. Maybe it is some sort of defense mechanism in his DNA. His body may need to shut down to rest after it does something extraordinary." I stared at Rose.

"The way his wound literally closed in seconds, it was phenomenal. I never seen or heard of anything like it. I think Yeva was right. Ethan is going to be very powerful."

Rose shook her head slightly. "You think Ethan's body went in like a shut down mode because it healed itself?"

"I don't know, babe. With Ethan we will probably learn something new everyday. Especially now that he is getting older and can start to express himself."

Just as I was finishing up the explanation of my theories, Ethan sat up in Rose's arm and started waving to emptiness in the corner of the room.

Rose squeezed him and kissed him. "Oh baby boy. Are you feeling better? Momma was so worried."

Ethan continued to wave and ignored his mother. "Ethan, baby? Who are you waving too?"

He looked at her and smiled. "Dadda."

Rose smiled back in response and corrected him. "Dada is over here beside mommy."

Ethan shook his head real fast and pointed to the corner again. "Dada."

Rose and I just stared at each other. "Maybe it's from hitting his head. We can mention it to the Dr. when she brings the results." I tried to reassure Rose, but honestly, I think it was something entirely different. Something or someone only Ethan could see….Dimitri.

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Ok…I may have two chapters left…lmao….I can't make up my mind to save my life!

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