DPOV

I slowly backed up, my eyes never leaving the man's. His gun was still aimed at me, his eyes blazing. I gently knocked on the bathroom door, Roza opened it slightly, poked her head out and gasped. She still was dressed, but her hair was slightly damp. Probably washing her face. I gave Roza a stern look, she looked at me fearfully.

We both knew with the baby's due date being so close, the risks of Strigoi trying to kill it were high.

I can't sit back, I thought bitterly, and watch Roza get hurt. I will protect her this time.

"Bring her over," the man demanded.

"Dimitri..." Roza looked at me wide-eyed. I gently pushed her behind me. The man fired a warning shot through the window. I stiffened. I felt Roza's hands go on my back. I heard her gasp. "Dimitri..."

"Sshh," I said.

"Listen, please..." Roza whispered.

"Roza," I said firmly.

"My water broke," she hissed.

. . . :0 :0 . . .

The shot the human fired wasn't smart. Other guardians were able to come and take the man away, and Roza was right, her water did break. Her pants were soaked. She gripped her stomach and panted. Her contractions seemed to have gotten worse.

From what Stan told me, a group of Moroi and dhampirs and humans had broken the wards over an hour ago. They were headed for the guardian wing. The school's guardians were trying to hold them off, but some of them had escaped. I ordered Stan to go tell Roza's doctor that Roza was going into labor. I was able to pick Roza up and practically ran to the infirmary. On my way, I saw guardians fighting the Strigoi's followers; the followers, when they saw me carrying Roza, went into a frenzy. They chased us, they tried tackling me. But the guardians were able to hold them off. I made it to the infirmary unharmed, but Roza's contractions had gotten worse. She was sweating and moaning and cursing.

Immediately, nurses and Roza's doctor had her in a room and hooked up to IVs.

"She's not far alont dialated to push," the doctor explained. "She's barely one centimeter."

I nodded gravely.

Once the doctor left, I sat next to Roza, but kept an eye on the door.

They'll be coming, I thought warily. They'll be coming for Roza and for the baby. I won't let that happen.

. . . :0 :0 . . .

It was close to sunset, and Roza hadn't progressed much. She was only three centimeters. Suddenly, I heard a scream. It wasn't Roza's. I looked at her, her face was slightly contorted in pain, but she had long since quieted her screams. The doctor was supposed to give her some pain medicine, to ease her labor pains. I stood up, looking at the door with fury.

When the door opened, a Strigoi walked in. He had messy red hair and a somewhat elegant look about him. Strange for someone like him.

"Hello," he greeted; he had a thick Scottish accent. "I've been waiting for a long time for this. We all have." He smiled darkly, showing off his fangs. "Do you know why we've been waiting for this?" He waved at Roza. I looked at her, she noticed the Strigoi and was trying her best not to look scared. "We've known about this little prophecy for quite some time, you see, and we couldn't sit back and allow it to happen."

"Leave her alone," I hissed.

The Strigoi chuckled. "Don't worry, sir. Once the child's born we'll make sure its death is quick and painless."

I snarled at him.

The Strigoi's dark smile deepened. "I'm afraid I haven't introduced myself. I'm Donovan. And I know who you are and I know who they are." Donovan pointed to Roza and I. Roza let out a soft scream. Donovan looked Roza up and down, smirking. He reached inside his shirt and pulled out a small glass vial. It was filled with a deep red fluid. It was hard for me to tell whether it was Strigoi blood or something else.

"Get away from her," I barked. I rushed in front of Roza. Donovan's eyes darkened.

"Your constant interruption is quite irritating, Mr. Belikov," he commented dryly. "I was hoping to have the baby and the girl brought back to me before nightfall, but my 'followers' couldn't do that right." He rolled his eyes sarcastically. "I'll have to do the killing myself." He shoved me out of the way and went towards Roza, I saw her look at him, terrified. She was helpless. I jumped onto Donovan's back, wrapping my arms around his neck and trying hard to yank him back. Donovan stumbled and gave a cry of irritation.

"You fucking bastard," I hissed into his ears. "If you lay one more finger on my Roza and my baby, I will make your death slow and painful."

Donovan threw me off him. He glared at me, his expression wild. "Slow and painful?" He laughed hystarically.

"I will not be merciful," I hissed. Donovan circled me like a predator.

"How are you going to kill me? Huh? You don't have a stake." He bore his fangs menacingly. "I'm stronger than you. I've survived for centuries on Moroi and dhampir blood. I'm powerful."

Roza gave another soft scream.

The baby.

I jumped towards Donovan, but he quickly moved to the left.

Roza.

I managed to kick Donovan in the stomach, causing him to grunt.

Our lives.

Donovan lunged toward me. I managed to stumble to the right.

Our past lives.

Donovan lunged again. He punched me in the face.

The baby's life.

Blood dripped from my nose. I punched Donovan in the face. Roza cried in pain.

Roza's life.

Donovan stumbled, momentarily off guard. That was my moment. I jumped on Donovan and managed to encircle my arms around his neck. Donovan struggled, clawing me wildy. With much effort, I managed to snap Donovan's neck. I rushed over to Roza, she was crying and her hands were holding her stomach tightly.

"D-Dimitri," she whimpered. "It hurts."

"I'm so, so sorry," I whispered. I realized the doctor hadn't returned.

You'll have to deliver the baby. I took a deep breath. I moved to Roza's legs.

"Don't worry, Roza," I said with a strained smile. "Everything'll be fine."

She hiccuped.

"Open your legs, Roza," I instructed. She did and I took a hesitant peek. I could see the baby's head, and it seemed pretty far down. "Do you feel like pushing, Roza?" I looked at her worriedly. She nodded wordlessly. "Okay, when you feel the next contraction, push."

Once her next contraction hit, she pushed.

RPOV

I pushed like Dimitri told me to. I was terrified. Dimitri just fought a Strigoi who attempted to murder me and the baby. I'm pretty sure the Strigoi killed the doctor cause she hadn't come back yet.

Contraction.

"C'mon, Roza," Dimitri said gently. "The baby's head is almost out."

Push.

I let out a bloodcurdling scream. Dimitri continued to urge me, saying kind words and soothing me that I was doing wonderful. I could sense that he was just as terrified as me. What if the baby wasn't okay? What if I had done something to the baby while Dimitri fought the Strigoi?

Contraction.

I pushed for my life. I pushed for the baby's life. I barely felt the tears that rolled down my face. I felt overwhelmed.

"The baby's head is out, Roza," Dimitri said quickly. The way he said it was so full of emotion. "There's so much hair. Just one more push."

I gave a tired push, and felt a sharp, quick pain go through me.

A baby's cry.

DPOV

I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. The baby was covered in blood and I still had to cut the umbilical cord. The baby cried and wriggled and had a full head of hair. I looked up at Roza and smiled tearfully. Roza was panting and looked exhausted. Dark circles formed under her eyes, she was sweating.

"T-The baby?" she whispered hoarsely.

I gave an emotional laugh. "A boy."

QUICKY A/N: HOW WAS IT? GOOD, BAD, UGLY? I DON'T KNOW. . . . I NEED YOUR OPINION. PLEASE REVIEW. & I MEAN PLEEEAAASSSEEE REVIEW. I'M SORRY I HADN'T UPDATED IN A WHILE, THINGS HAVE BEEN CRAZY FOR ME. BUT, DIMITRI FACED THE STRIGOI WHO WANTED ROSE&BABY DEAD, AND RUSSIAN WON! THE BABY'S BORN & IT'S A LITTLE GUY! BUT I'LL NEED YOUR HELP FOR WRITING THE NEXT CH.

I'M PROBABLY ONE OR TWO CH.'S AWAY FROM THE EPILOGUE, THEN I'LL START ON MY NEXT VA FANFIC. ONCE I FINISH "STAR-CROSSED" THOUGH, I'LL LET Y'ALL KNOW WHAT MY NEXT FANFIC'LL BE ABOUT. HOW'S THAT?

:D :D

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY