Disclaimer: I do not own VA/Bloodlines and thank Richelle Mead for writing such awesome series.

Note: Some of you may be wondering who Olive and Diana are – if you have read Bloodlines series you will know

But just incase I have given some explanation but if you haven't read Ruby Circle and don't want it ruined then I suggest you don't read this chapter.

Special shout out to:

BookWretched – for being my awesome Beta

Romitri – for your words of encouragement and 2nd opinion

Will Rose and Dimitri make it to the altar or does fate have something else in store for them?

*Note: There are spoilers to The Ruby Circle*

THE WEDDING PART II

DPOV

I woke up with a big grin on my face – today I was going to marry my Roza.

I still couldn't believe it, it felt like a fairy tale. How did I get so lucky?

I had just gotten out of my shower when someone knocked at my door.

It was Eddie, Neil, Christian and Adrian – my boys.

I felt a small lump in my throat as I thought about Ivan and how if he had been alive it would have been him standing next to me at the altar as my best man. Don't get me wrong, I loved Eddie as a little brother and had great respect for him, but we didn't have the same bond or history like Ivan and I had. 'I miss you Ivan' I thought sadly.

But I couldn't be sad on the biggest day of my life. And the boys wouldn't let me. Urging me to get ready so they could take me down for breakfast, they practically pulled me out my hotel room (and sad mood).

I was bursting with happiness because today I was finally going to marry my soulmate.

RPOV

"Rose, what's wrong? You have been staring at that photo for almost 10 minutes. It's freaking me out!"

I jolted out of my trance when I heard Mia's voice right next to me. She must have walked over when I didn't respond to her earlier questions (whatever they were – I forgot where I was the moment I saw the photo of OIive and Diana).

"Who are these girls Rose and why do you look so freaked out?"

I took a deep breath.

"Can you give me a sec, Mia? I want to read the card so I can see who the flowers are from".

She gave me a quick nod and walked back to the coffee table. The worried expression never leaving her face.

I took another deep breath and turned the card around to read the message, feeling a small knot forming in my stomach with dread.

Dearest Rosemarie,

First of all congratulations on your big day today – I couldn't be happier that you and Dimka found each other.

I was a bit hurt that I never got the chance to spend time with you both when we caught up in Michigan – after all it was the first time we met. I would have loved to have spent time with my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. And I am still hurting that I was not invited to your nuptials – after all I am family.

Anyway that doesn't matter, especially not since I found out something very interesting that can change the foundation of our society. It took a while, but Diana finally told me all about Olive and her 'special' baby.

I still have so many questions and well, can't wait to have them answered, so my dear I give you two choices.

Choice 1 – You come to me and answer these in person.

Choice 2 – I come to you and get my answers.

Personally I am leaning towards 2 as I would love to be at your wedding and see Dimka getting married. And there is the added bonus of seeing Olena and the girls – I haven't seen them in such a long time.

Let me know what you decide soon – if I don't hear from you within the hour of these flowers being delivered, I will assume you went with choice 2.

Otherwise call the number below. Either way I look forward to seeing you in person again.

Your loving father in law,

Randall Ivashkov

I felt bile rising in my throat and had to grab the table to steady myself.

I saw Mia getting ready to ask me something but I silenced her with a lifted finger, asking for another minute. Watching her squirm and ignoring it, I grabbed my phone and dialled the number at the bottom of the card. I heard someone answer on the other end after the first ring. I didn't wait for a proper response or greeting.

"I'm coming".

And just like that, half an hour later, instead of getting ready for my wedding, Mia and I were driving out of the resort and on our way to the rendezvous point to meet up with Randall.

I didn't have time to get into explanations with Mia (not if I wanted to be back in time for the wedding) so the only way I could appease her was to bring her along. We left a message for the girls with front desk saying we were having last-minute massages in the spa and that we would meet them in my room after lunch. I really hoped I would be back in time by then.

I didn't want to tell anyone about the note, especially Dimitri. He didn't need this stress today. No, I would take care of it. I had met Randall that one and only time in Michigan (when we were looking for Olive) and I still couldn't believe he was the abusive father Dimitri had beaten up at 13. He seemed like a harmless, randy drunk to me. And so with that image, I was confident I could handle Randall Ivashkov without Dimitri and be back in time to become his wife.

I was worried I wouldn't be let out of the resort, but with a little lie and some minor compulsion from Mia, we were able to convince the guardians at the gate that we had some last minute wedding things to take care of.

We had been driving silently for the last 10 minutes and I could see Mia was about to burst. She had been very patient and quiet, and hadn't questioned me when I had grabbed my stake and gun, giving her my spare gun to carry (I hoped we wouldn't need it, but you can never be too careful). I decided to finally fill her in on what was happening.

"Ok Mia, I know you are dying to know what the hell is going on. But first I need you to hear me out. You need to know the background story to understand why we are doing what we are about to do. I know you will have lots of questions but let me finish first before you interrupt me – it will be easier this way, ok?"

She gave me a quick nod, biting her lips nervously and attempting to hold back the questions that were probably already floating around in her head.

I took a deep breath and started my tale. Even now, as I say it out loud, it still feels like a fairy tale. And you would think an ex-shadow-kissed guardian about to marry a former-Strigoi-restored-Dhampir would be used to the impossible and the unexpected – apparently I wasn't.

"The girls in the photo are two Dhampirs – the pregnant girl's name was Olive and the other's was Diana. Long story short, Olive had been a Strigoi and her sister Nina, who was a Spirit user, found her and restored her like Dimitri and Sonya. The sisters had returned to Court to be monitored and help with the Spirit research that Sonya and Dimitri were working on. Not many people knew about them and they mostly kept to themselves. I don't know where or when it happened, but Olive and Neil fell in love. Next thing we know Olive had suddenly disappeared, telling her sister she needed time to recover and process the guilt she had experienced from her days as Strigoi. Everyone, including Nina respected her choice to leave, but soon it became apparent that Olive would not return and if anything she didn't want to be found. Nina tried everything, using a lot of Spirit to find her sister. She even asked Adrian to help her. I don't know how they did it, but they finally found Olive living in a Dhampir commune in Michigan. And that's when they discovered she was pregnant. Unfortunately Nina had used too much Spirit by then and was far too out of it to do anything, so Adrian, Sydney, Dimitri and I went to find Olive, in the hopes of bringing her home. We all just assumed that Olive had fallen pregnant after sleeping with some random Moroi – we weren't sure if it was consensual or not – but figured it was guilt that had kept her away. After all, we all knew she loved Neil and this would have devastated him. While we were there, trying to convince a very heavily pregnant Olive to come back with us, we bumped into Randall Ivashkov. Adrian's uncle and… Dimitri's father…"

At this revelation Mia gasped and her eyes bulged in surprise. She bit down harder on her lips, straining to not ask any follow-up questions.

"I know, I know. I was shocked too. But yeah, that was the first and last time I met Randall Ivashkov. Anyway, that night, a group of Strigoi attacked the commune and Olive panicked and ran into the woods. Normally, she would have easily taken care of the Strigoi that came after her, but unfortunately she had gone into labour and was distracted. The poor girl delivered the baby on her own, in the woods, fighting off a Strigoi. I don't know how she did it. Unfortunately, she didn't make it, but the baby survived. We got there just in time to hear her last words, and she gave the baby over to Adrian and Sydney…"

I saw Mia's eyes widen in understanding, a single word finally escaping her trembling lips.

"Declan…"

I gave her a sad smile.

"Yes, Declan is Olive's child…" I took a deep breath to steady my nervous before I revealed the biggest secret I had ever kept in my entire life.

"Mia, Declan is Olive and Neil's child. I know you are going to think I have gone mental or something. How can two Dhampirs possibly have a child together? And believe me, even I don't understand how it's possible. But we think it's got something to do with Spirit and that maybe being restored from her Strigoi state allowed Olive to conceive a baby with Neil. She was naturally afraid to tell him the truth because she thought he wouldn't believe her. Also she was worried that if people did believe her, her son would become a lab rat and she didn't want that. So a handful of people know the truth and have sworn to keep it a secret. For all intents and purpose, Declan is Sydney and Adrian's son, even if he isn't their biological son, they love him just the same and don't want the world to know the truth. And so here we are, on our way to meet my supposed 'father-in-law'. He somehow found out about Olive and Declan and gave a veiled threat to reveal the truth if I didn't come and talk to him. He also threatened to come to the wedding if I didn't go see him in person. I can't have that Mia. You don't know what kind of father he was to Dimitri and his sisters, the kind of husband he was to Olena. I can't put them through that kind of pain. So I am going to see him, answer his stupid questions and convince/threaten him to keep his mouth shut. I didn't mean for you to get involved, but I guess now you are. Promise me you won't tell anyone about Declan. Promise me!"

Mia had been squirming in her seat while she had been listening, but the moment I asked her for her promise, she stopped her fidgeting and with a determined look promised to keep the secret.

I was so grateful I nearly cried in relief. I was about to give her the chance to finally ask her questions when we suddenly came to the rendezvous point – a small park off the main road. I could see a black tinted SUV already waiting for us there. We got out of the car, and walked over. Someone was waiting for us, leaning against the side of the car. I felt my skin tingle, and my gut was warning me something wasn't right.

I should always trust my gut.

When we were only a few steps from the man standing by the car we were suddenly surrounded by others, dressed in black and carrying guns that were pointed at us. We had both reacted the instant we sensed the threat, drawing out our own weapons, but it was useless. We were outnumbered and out-gunned. I was finally able to register that these men were all human – not a single Moroi or Dhampir amongst them. Again I felt my skin prickle, knowing that humans (who weren't Alchemist) only helped one kind of vampires. The man leaning against the car straightened up and made his way to me, holding a black sack.

"Lord Ivashkov apologises for not being here but has asked me to bring you to him. I suggest you come along with us without a fuss otherwise this little lady will be punished for your behaviour".

Before I could give him a snarky reply, Mia, who had been hiding her other hand that was gathering moisture from the air, bought it forward with a suspended water fist that struck the guy in the face, making him stagger back and drop the sack he was holding. I took that as my cue to engage the men closest to me, who were thrown off by the display of magic. Mia and I were able to get in a few punches and kicks, but it was no use. There were too many and it wasn't long before they had grabbed us and taken our weapons.

The leader (well I presumed he was the leader because he was the only one who spoke) went over to Mia and gave her a hard slap, splitting her lip open.

"Leave her alone you bastard!" I growled with frustration and anger.

He looked at me with deep hatred and spoke with an eerie calmness.

"You are lucky that Lord Ivashkov wants to deliver a message to his son, otherwise this bitch would be dying a slow, painful death".

Before I could say anything more I felt someone hit me in the back of my head with something hard and the world slowly faded into darkness, the last word that escaped my lips – 'Dimitri'.

DPOV

After breakfast we all went back to my room to hang out and play some video games – to relieve stress as Eddie suggested. Even though I was happy beyond description and was surrounded by laughter and joy, I felt something twist in my stomach. I couldn't explain it, but deep down, I felt that something was wrong, very wrong. Maybe it was pre-wedding jitters, but that didn't seem right. I couldn't quite place what was worrying me, just that it was there, and it kept growing as the hours passed by.

We went back down to the restaurant to have a late lunch. The guys were joking around about what we would be doing on our honeymoon, when I heard Christian's phone buzz. The puzzled look on his face made me tune out the conversations that were happening around me, as I studied him. He was replying back to the text and took a quick moment to look around the restaurant, as if searching for someone, before going back to his phone to finish. The puzzled look remained on his face as he put his phone away.

"Everything ok?"

He looked up at me, startled by my question.

"Yeah, yeah. I am sure its ok. That was Lissa, just asking if Mia or Rose were here in the restaurant having lunch. They were all meant to meet up in Rose's room after lunch but when they got there Rose and Mia weren't in the room. I wouldn't be surprised if those two were still at the spa, getting pedicures or something".

I know he was trying to make it seem like it was nothing, but I felt every muscle in my body tense and tighten. The feeling in my stomach came to the forefront, and I was suddenly very worried. This was not like Rose, to disappear without leaving a note or something. Before I could tell Christian that I would go to the spa to check, a commotion at the restaurant's entrance stopped me. The conversation around the tabled abruptly ended too.

Mikhail rushed in, followed closely by other guardians. They looked around frantically until they spotted our table and quickly made their way over. Everyone at the table jumped up, tensing as we took in their sombre expressions – something was definitely wrong.

My heart sank to the floor when I saw Ryan step forward, carrying a small figure in his arms. She was bruised and bloody and was clutching something tightly in her hands. I thought she was unconscious but when Ryan murmured something to the lifeless figure, a small spark of life animated her just enough to turn and face me.

Mia's face was covered in dried blood and her lip looked swollen. I came close to her, taking her hands in mine, my heart beating out of my chest. She placed something small in them and whispered four words that tore my soul into shreds.

"Rose is in trouble…"

Oh no, do you think Rose will make it back in time for the wedding?

What did Mia give to Dimitri?

And what's up with Randall Ivashkov? Any thoughts?

Let me know what you think