PART III, ROSE&DIMITRI'S CONNECTED DREAM!

RPOV

Rosemarie explained everything in deeper detail. I didn't know how much Father Andrew knew, but having a past life (weird, isn't it?) explain it to Dimitri and I was much creepier. Rosemarie said that if she got pregnant by Dimitri, the baby would have put a lot of pressure on her body. It's impossible for two dhampirs to concieve, but since Rosemarie and I are so different than ordinary dhampirs, pregnancy can happen by both Moroi and dhampirs. She said that if Strigoi found out about the baby, they wouldn't hesitate to kill her and the baby. Dimitri added that he valued Rosemarie's life, and if getting pregnant meant that she'd die, he wouldn't risk it. They both talked about how Strigoi were getting greater in numbers, how they were influencing humans to do their bidding during the day, and even getting some Moroi and dhampirs to help out, too. The promise of eternal life was overwhelming. Who would refuse the opprotunity to live forever?

When they finished explaining, it got quiet for a few moments. I looked up at Dimitri, and his face was deathly pale. His eyes were wide and a look of fear was on his face. I could see a battle of emotions in his eyes, but fear was the one that was plastered on his face.

"I know this is hard to take in," Rosemarie said solemnly. "but don't take it so hard. You must know that this is a very big deal. The prophecy has to be fulfilled or our world will be overrun by Strigoi." Her face darkened. "They've gotten stronger from when Dimitri and I were alive. Moroi and dhampirs wouldn't help out Strigoi, it's not in their nature. Humans? Obviously, they're naïve, they'd believe anyhing. But you must stop them. I know the thought of getting pregnant is too far, but you don't understand the concequences. The Strigoi know what they're doing—they've been plotting this ever since Dimitri and I have lived." There was a pleading sound in her voice.

"The Strigoi will launch their attack on your institution in exactly ten months," other Dimitri said flatly. "This is overwhelming, yes, but there is no time for the two of you to allow fear to run your minds. This is very important."

I realized that other Dimitri's voice was starting to fade out, and that Rosemarie and other Dimitri looked translucent.

Rosemarie opened her mouth to say something, but—

IN THE INFIRMARY

I gasped and jolted up. I couldn't catch my breath, it felt as if I ran a marathon. I was sweating up a storm and the room was spinning.

"Rose!" a voice called. For a second, I thought it was Rosemarie, but when my head cleared, I saw I was in the infirmary. Lissa stood at the doorway. She ran over and hugged me gently. "I was so worried about you! Eddie found you passed out. What happened?"

I blinked a few times. Passed out? I gave my head a sharp shake.

"I-I don't know," I lied. "I guess I'm just overworked." I took a deep breath.

"Alberta said she found Dimitri passed out near his room," she said slowly. "Knocked out cold. He was all clammy and Alberta said he was cold to the touch. Her and Celeste and Stan had to carry him to the infirmary."

My blood ran cold. "Dimitri passed out?" I gasped.

Lissa nodded.

"Where is he?" I stuttered.

"I think he's in the room next to yours," she said.

"I have to see him," I said shakily. I slung my legs over the side of my bed, but when I tried standing, I got lightheaded.

"Don't go pushing yourself," Lissa snapped. "Dr. Olendski said that you need to rest. You shouldn't be overworking yourself."

"I don't care," I grunted. "I need to see Dimitri. Let me go." I shoved myself passed Lissa and shuffled to the door. I opened it and a nurse saw me.

"Hey there," she called. "Where do you think you're going? You need to lie down."

"I need to see guardian Belikov," I panted. I felt out of breath. "Please—"

"Sweetheart—" the nurse began.

"Please," I pressed. The nurse sighed and led me to Dimitri's room. Lissa followed behind us. When I saw Dimitri, curled up under the covers, shivering, I rushed over to him. I gently placed a hand on his shoulder, I felt him flinch under my touch. He looked at me and he gave a small, tired smile.

"Roza," he slurred. He slowly turned and scooted to make room for me. He patted the spot next to me. His eyes looked dull and tired, his hair was soaked with sweat. I lied down next to him. I could feel Lissa's confusion and concern through the bond.

"Are you okay?" I whispered, brushing strands of hair from his face. He shrugged halfheartedly. He felt cold.

Probably from the dream, I thought. Dimitri scooted closer to me, wrapping an arm around my waist. His eyes said what he was thinking. I looked behind me, Lissa was gone, the door was closed. I hadn't even realized she left. I looked back at Dimitri.

"Did you—" I said softly. "The dream?"

He nodded. He scooted closer, kissing my forehead. "It felt so real," he murmured. "It scared me." He sounded so vulnerable. My heart sank. "You knew about this?"

"Father Andrew told me about it," I said, our faces inches apart. "He didn't tell me as much as—as—" I trailed off, but Dimitri knew what I was talking about. He was shivering again. I pulled the blanket up, trying to put it over his shoulders. Dimitri peeled the blanket back and put it over both of us. We stayed under the blanket, cuddling, trying not to think about the dream. But it was difficult. "I'll do it," I whispered. Dimitri looked at me with a confused expression. "If getting pregnant will stop the Strigoi from killing us off, I'll do it. I'll get pregnant."

"No," Dimitri said softly. His fingers brushed against my cheek, his eyes wide. "You don't have to do it. You heard what she said. If you got pregnant by another dhampir, it will put pressure on your body."

I smiled. "Being pregnant already puts pressure on a woman's body," I murmured. "I don't want to see my friends get hurt by Strigoi. Humans are helping them now—even Moroi and dhampirs." I sighed. "We can't just sit back and watch everyone die."

Dimitri stayed silent. His eyes half-open, his mouth set in a frown.

After a few minutes of silence, Dimitri and I fell asleep.

DPOV

The next morning, Roza and I were released from the infirmary. Alberta said that Roza and I could take the rest of the week off to relax and get better. My shivers went away, and so did the sweating. Roza and I didn't talk much, but we spent the day in my room. I sat on the edge of my bed while Roza sat in an armchair off in the corner of my room.

I kept giving her quick glances, she seemed so deep in her thoughts. The idea of getting my Roza pregnant made me both fearful and excited. I wanted to give myself to Roza, but finding out she can get pregnant by other dhampirs made me worry.

She's so beautiful, though, I thought sadly.

"What?" Roza said. I jumped. "You're looking at me. Is there something on my face?"

I gave a small smile. "No, my Roza," I said. She smiled back. She got up and sat next to me. I took her hand in mine, lacing our fingers.

"Do you love me?" Roza asked.

"Of course," I said. "With all my heart." She smiled wider and kissed me. The kiss started out gentle, but deepened. I knew what kind of kiss it was, and I was about to pull away when Roza told me not to go. We continued kissing, one of my hands going to her hip, the other one (letting go of her hand) tangled in her beautiful hair. I laid her on the bed without breaking the kiss.

Roza looked at me, confirming what I needed to know. We kissed some more, undressing this time. Our clothes scattered the floor, and I looked at Roza, admiring her beauty. She tried covering it with her arms and hands, insecure under my gaze.

"Don't," I said. "Don't hide yourself."

"Okay," she breathed. We kissed some more, touching, exploring, nothing intimate. Her hands traveled up and down my chest and stomach, her fingers brushing against my back. I shivered under her touch, just as she shivered under mine. "Dimitri," she sighed. I looked at her. She nodded. I gulped. Pulling the covers over us, I took her.

QUICKY A/N: HOW WAS IT? GOOD, BAD, TOLERABLE, MEH? I HOPE IT WAS GOOD! PLEASE REVIEW! OH, AND I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEW FANFIC I'LL BE MAKING ONCE I'M FINISHED WITH THIS ONE—IT WILL HAVE THE USUAL DHAMPIRS, MOROI AND SUCH. ONLY THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ROSE & DIMITRI'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL IT!

ANYWAY, REVIEW, PLEASE!

:) :)

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY