RPOV

Dimitri and I waited a few more days before going to the infirmary. When we did, Dr. Olendski confirmed that I was truly pregnant. Dimitri and I were both relieved and frightened. We were both young—it didn't matter if Dimitri was seven years older than me—and we both knew the hidden meaning behind my pregnancy. Dimitri would be on high alert, protecting me at all costs. But being pregnant also meant that I wouldn't be able to do my usual combat classes.

That's where Dimitri told my teachers. They excused me until my due date. And by then, news of my baby spread like wildfire. I never announced who the baby's father was, and everyone was making accusations. Jesse Zeklos was the fater, Adrian Ivashkov—a new Moroi friend and a spirit-user—was the father. All kinds of accusations. I never admitted to them. I never said anything except when I was around my friends. Dimitri never left my side.

A month along

My stomach felt firmer. Though you could hardly feel the bump, if you looked closely, you'd be able to see it. A very small one.

"How are you feeling, milaya?" Dimitri murmured. I had spent the night in Dimitri's room. We were in bed, cuddling.

I shrugged. "The same." Dimitri's hand was on my stomach, mine on top of his. I looked at Dimitri, his eyes were still closed, but I knew he was awake. His hair was adorably messy. I sighed.

"What's the matter?" Dimitri scooted closer to me, curling his long body around mine.

"I'm scared," I admitted.

Dimitri's eyes opened. "I'm scared, too. But we'll be able to do it. This baby is ours. We'll raise it just fine."

"I know it's just—" I trailed off. Dimitri kissed me gently. The look in his eyes answered all of my unasked questions. For the rest of the morning, we just stayed in bed in a comfortable silence.

I was in Stan's class, tuning him out as usual. I was playing with my pencil, twirling it between my fingers. When the door opened, everyone in the class turned to see Alberta and Celeste.

"There's been a Strigoi sighting near the Academy," Celeste breathed. "We're not sure how many, but we're thinking there's about five or six."

I looked at Dimitri, who stood in the back of the classroom. His eyes were blazing with anger and protectiveness, but he kept his guardian-mask on. Class was let out early, and Dimitri was able to excuse me for the rest of the day. We both stayed in his room, trying to keep calm. But it was useless. We could either assume that the Strigoi the guardians saw was just a random group in search of blood, or a group of Strigoi trying to kill me and my unborn baby.

Dimitri and I went to the cafeteria for lunch. He refused to leave my side, so when he sat down with me the other students stared curiously. Halfway through lunch, the fire alarm went off. Everyone gathered in the commons. Kirova stood with a bunch of the Academy's guardians.

"The Academy's wards have been broken," Alberta announced. "We're on lockdown. Every student must go to their dorm immediately." The students were in an uproar. The guardians were trying to get through the mob of frightened Moroi and dhampir students. I tried staying with Dimitri, but the crowd separated us. I could see the look of fear and determination on Dimitri's face. I tried telling him I'd be in his room, safe and sound. But it was too loud.

I managed to sneak into Dimitri's room unnoticed. I closed the door and locked it. I grabbed Dimitri's favorite duster and curled up on his bed, my face buried in the fabric. It smelled just like him—aftershave with a hint of his natural, musky smell.

Please, please get out safely, I thought.

I stayed locked in Dimitri's room for hours. I lost track of the time. I still held Dimitri's duster close to me, worried and anxious. A loud bang came from the other side of the door. I jumped and backed away. The banging was violent and loud. My heart hammered, but I tried staying calm. Someone was yelling in another language on the other side. It didn't sound Russian and it obviously wasn't English.

After beating the door so hard, the door's hinges broke off. A Strigoi with a group of humans stood on the other end. The Strigoi said—demanded?—something to the humans in his language. The humans lunged at me. In any other situation, I would've been able to fight them, but I was so traumatized that I froze. One human was able to get me to the ground, earning a shout from the Strigoi. The human shoved a damp clothe in my face.

Black.

QUICKY A/N: I WON'T DISCONTINUE OR SET THIS STORY UP FOR ADOPTION. I'LL CONTINUE WRITING IT, FOR YOU GUYS. SORRY FOR HAVING MY DOUBTS ABOUT THIS STORY. AND I'M SORRY IF IT'S MOVING TOO QUICKLY FOR SOME OF YOU.

SO, I COULD USE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT THE NEXT CH. SHOULD BE. SHOULD ROSE BE CAPTURED BY THE STRIGOI AND HUMANS FOR THE REMAINDER OF HER PREGNANCY, OR SHOULD OUR FAVORITE RUSSIAN HUNK SAVE THE DAY? LET ME KNOW!

REVIEW!

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YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY