RPOV
"Did you do that on purpose?" I asked when I realised our whole conversation could be taken in a completely different way.
"I-" Dimitri gaped for half a second before crashing his lips to mine in a fiery but cautious kiss. Hot damn! "No, I hadn't, but I'm glad she's gone for now," he murmured cautiously against my lips.
"I want her support, Comrade, but I know I'll never get it," I whimpered softly.

I hadn't been this close to tears in a fortnight, and lately that's an achievement. This whole out of my control hormone thing had really been pissing me off. And Dimitri. For fear of the hawk and others in general, I hadn't allowed Dimitri to completely relieve certain... symptoms... which had left him in need of a few cold showers recently. Besides, it was nearing the time in general when that physical activity was on the very unsafe list.

"You've got me, and my mother. You've got all your friends. You've even got Alberta. Roza, you have more support than you realise." We kissed before I responded.
"But I want our baby to have a grandma on my side," I grumbled.
"She'll come around. Just give her time, Mommy."
"She never got the idea of mothering me," I muttered.
Dimitri simply shut me up by kissing me. And kissing me. And kissing me. But it didn't take long at all before I needed to breathe heavily... very heavily. He'd never, ever understand what he did to me.

The following week went by as uneventfully as possible. Of course there were still blood whore whispers and stares, especially still the stares as I continued to bump. Then Dimitri surprised me another week later.
"I thought you might need these," he smiled sweetly and handed over a wrapped box. A huge wrapped box. I should mention it was wrapped in baby/ congratulations wrapping. I took it off him after sitting on the mats, beside him.
"You didn't need to," I pecked his lips. "Especially today." I carefully undid his perfect wrapping. "You really shouldn't have," I chastised lovingly while thumbing through the pile of clothes. Maternity tops and special mat jeans, dresses, and maternity undies, bras, and training blacks. I dug further still. "Oh, you are brilliant," I moaned simply at the image of him applying the anti-stretch-mark cream he'd bought.

Sensing my thoughts, Dimitri gently laid me back on the mats. He hovered over me, very wary of my bump, which was doing flips at the moment while my heart rate picked up. Dimitri lifted my top up, but paused when he reached my boobs. Always the thoughtful gentleman. I nodded and pulled my bra off a second later without missing a beat.
"You're a tease," he commented as he grabbed the huge tube and started squeezing the stuff on my bump and rubbing it in.
"So are you," I whined as he massaged the cream on my boobs. What he did to me; it wasn't fair.

Alberta'sPOV
I opened the gym door cautiously. And spotted what no one should. Why was it always me they left traumatised? I locked the door from the inside before shutting it again.

I honestly couldn't believe them. It was the school gym, for Vladimir's sake! It was so early in the Moroi morning, and it had to be close to too dangerous to do that. Un-believable, totally un-believable.

RPOV
"Happy birthday, Comrade," I gasped.
Dimitri smirked against my lips. "Best birthday yet, since I'm sharing it with my family."
My breath hitched in surprise. "Dimitri?"
He looked into my eyes. "Of course you and Bubby Belikov are my family."
"We love you, Daddy," I said as he rubbed over our kicking son or daughter, gazing into his eyes seriously, lovingly.
"I love you two, too." He brought his lips to my stomach and started singing in Russian.
I groaned. "That's so not fair," I complained playfully. "You'll teach Bubby Russian, but not me."
"You only want to swear," he retorted.
"Not anymore," I told him truthfully.
"Then..." Dimitri smiled at me as he suddenly understood. "You want to hum the lullabies too?"
I nodded. "Lissa will be away at Lehigh more than half the time and you know how effective your Russian stuff works on him or her. I want to be able to calm him or her the same way."
He kissed me lightly but meaningfully. "Okay then," he agreed. "For Bubby."
"For Bubby," I agreed.
Dimitri's phone rang as he leaned in to kiss me. Brilliant!

DPOV
"Belikov, Rose is late to class- the class that can't get into the gym- and I know it's your fault," Alberta informed before I could even greet her. She hung up before I could start a syllable.
I groaned and started dressing. "It was Petrov," I responded to Rose's inquisitive gaze. "You're late for class."

I helped her up and she pecked my cheek before dressing in a dress I'd bought, wearing the mat undies and bra I'd also gotten for her. Her comfort and safety were paramount, top of my priorities. After all, I was the one responsible for her being pregnant in the first place. I'd do anything for my family, absolutely anything for Roza and our child.

"Happy birthday, Daddy," Roza whispered and smacked my butt before waddling to the door, my gift safely sequestered in her bag.

Yes, she was at the point of waddling and I constantly had to fight the urge to smile and support her waist. I was supposed to be her disappointed mentor, not the excited father of her child. No one said true love ever ran smooth or that teaching at high school was anywhere near easy.

"Did you forget you're a novice, Hathaway?" laughed Ashford as he gestured to the clinging sundress. I took my guarding position as the class filed in.
"Watch it, Ashford, I can still kick Strigoi ass in a dress and with your niece or nephew." Not that I'd let her. Her breath shortened after a few short seconds of kissing.
"Are you ever going to tell us who that baby's father is?" asked Castile as they fell into the usual trio. The other guardians took up their positions.
"No," Roza teased and I nearly rolled my eyes.

"It's a wonder you survived Hathaway's attitude before," teased Julie, as we walked between classes. She was a guardian three years my senior. She was red haired, about two inches taller than Rose, and kind with a British training and an English accent. She'd been moved from the elementary campus after the attack.
I shrugged. "Her fire is what makes her lethal, a weapon of mass destruction. Someone just needed to be patient and show her how to channel that passion into a power-filled, precise kill."
Julie laughed. "I s'pose so. Honestly, Belikov?"
"Yeah?"
"She's an inspiration and you should be bloody proud of her."
I chuckled. "I never said I wasn't. She's brilliant and I'm honoured to mentor her. She's determined, so determined to find a balance between motherhood and a being an excellent guardian."
Julie looked at me oddly for a moment. "She doesn't want to be the Princess's guardian anymore?" Shit! No one had yet picked up on the difference.
"She does," so badly, "she just wants to spend time with the baby and guard Court for a while."
"She's a vehicle for change," Julie approved. We split for our next shift with a nod.

"A boy?" Roza squeaked in delight at the ultrasound Alberta had demanded we go to.
The ultrasound technician nodded. "Yes, Miss Hathaway. You're having a son. I'll give you a moment."

Roza grabbed my hand with tears in her eyes. "Little James Ivan Belikov," she announced proudly. A single tear fell and I kissed it away.
"Our son," I murmured into her ear. "I can't thank you enough, Roza. You've given me everything. Words can't convey my love for you, both you and our son."
"Our son," Roza repeated, testing out the phrase, trying to grasp the reality.
"Our son," I grinned proudly, the joy pulsed through my body and I leaned back in to kiss her sweet lips. The technician returned with two discs for Roza and instructions to keep up the vitamins and ease back on all exercise bar pregnancy yoga. I also noted Roza's expression when we were told sex or anything more than kissing was a no go- that it could send her into premature labour. That was the very last thing we wanted, as eager as we were to meet our miracle son we did not want him underdeveloped and unready for the lifestyle he will be thrown head-first into the deep-end of.

Lissa'sPOV
"A nephew?" I squealed and threw my arms around Rose's shoulders. "Rose's son? You're a Hathaway boy?" I asked her baby bump. I was rewarded with a kick from Rose's Bubby and a laugh from Rose.
"My son is his father's son, Lissa. He's not a Hathaway."
My eyes shot to meet hers. "You're not putting Hathaway in his name? You're not even hyphenating?"
She shook her head with a sly smile. "Nope. We've agreed he's only taking his father's name."
"But surely that's too risky? And I never thought you'd go all typical traditional surnaming the child after the father."
"It's the opposite of the dhampir surnaming tradition," she retorted.
I smiled. "You're right, it is opposite. So, what are you two naming my nephew?"
"James Ivan," Rose smiled proudly and rubbed her bump.

A pang of jealousy shot through me, unnecessary and irrational jealousy and envy. Rose had had sex just the once with another dhampir and she'd gotten pregnant; I'd had it plenty of times with Christian, but because of propriety and pressure, we had to be cautious, we had to wait. I wanted kids, I needed kids, yet Rose was already having a son with my guardian. James Ivan Belikov. Leave it to Rose Hathaway to do the impossible while still in high school and make me jealous in the process.

"You'll be a brilliant Mom when the time comes, Lissa," comforted Rose.
But that time was ages away.
"It doesn't have to be, it's your future baby, you and Ozera can have your first child when you feel ready. If that's before society and Council thinks you should, then they can just deal. If you're both ready, then go for it. You don't have to have your babies to please Council, to rebuild the line and that crap. You and Christian want to start a family, then start it when you want, on your terms, and before Council can get their scheming, controlling hands on you."
She made it sound so simple, so easy.
"Because it is, numbskull!" Rose pulled me into her arms as much as James would allow.

She had it so easy without all the royal games. But as a young female dhampir pregnant with her forbidden lover's child she had it so much worse, so much harder. I'd seen and heard reports from Christian of how defensive and protective Dimitri was being without either parent actually saying he was the father. They were practically shouting it to the world they were together and expecting, but not a soul had uttered a word, spread a theory, whispered their suspicion.

A baby with Christian would be delightful. It would be a blessing if they had his hair and fire magic, my eyes and poise, with his grounding. It would do so much to help his reputation for us to start our family, and on our terms. Married or not, our first baby would bind us in a way nothing else ever would. It would shut Tatiana and her minions up, rule out entirely their deluded possibility of me agreeing to an arranged marriage with Adrian- I counted that as in-breeding and would not consent to it, not when Christian held my heart. So many positives, so, so many.

Christian walked in my door after knocking twice. I was teaching him some etiquette and manners.
"Lissa? Honey? Rose? Oh, what is our baby Belikov?" he added with an expectant laugh.
"A mini-Comrade," Rose beamed. While Dimitri wanted his Roza mark 2, Rose had wanted her Comrade all over again. And she'd been granted her wish.
My boyfriend paled. "Watch out world, a male Hathaway's coming!"
Rose and I laughed. "No, idiot. He's not a Hathaway, you've always said he's his father's baby." Rose actually thwacked him upside the head.
"Ouch! You're one scary pregnant woman, Hathaway. I'd be terrified if I was your child."
"Thanks," she smirked. "Thanks for the note."
"Go get some sleep, Rose," I instructed.
"Oh hell no, Vasilisa Dragomir, not with your plans."
Christian looked at me in confusion. Attic, I mouthed.
"That was pointless, Lissa," Rose shook her head. "Completely pointless." Rose turned to Christian before waddle-bolting out the door, "I give you permission to forget what James' Dad did."

RPOV
"Comrade, open up!" I banged on his door after sneaking into the guardian wing of dhampir dorms. And please be dressed, I won't be able to control my desires with Lissa and Christian going at it on top of my hormones.
"You okay, Rose?" Dimitri rushed out as he pulled me into his room warily but urgently and happily.
"I will be," I pouted and puppy-eyed.
"Roza, you know we can't, for James' sake."
I rolled my eyes and lowered myself on his bed. "My mind isn't that dirty," I laughed and patted the spot next to me. He sat and wrapped an arm around me, his hand tracing what was supposed to be my hip. I sighed contentedly and snuggled into his side. "Just distract me while Lissa and Christian destroy the sanctity of the chapel. Sing to James. Anything. Just keep me in my own body. I do not need to be there when they try to create a little Dragomir."
"You reckon they'll succeed?" he asked into my hair, rubbing the bump our son was making.
"She wants a mini-Christian so desperately and is so envious I'm carrying a mini-you. Besides, they're so frustrated it's not funny. In the last three months we've done it more than they have." It was true. They wouldn't be sleeping tonight.
Dimitri chuckled his infectious laugh. "Where's those scan discs?" he asked suddenly.
"Missing him already, are we?" I murmured against Dimitri's cheek before pecking it and gesturing towards my bag.
"I want to feel him kicking while seeing it, and yes, I am. He's with you twenty-four/ seven," Dimitri pouted and pulled the discs out. And my hidden supply of condoms. "Really Roza?" Dimitri chuckled while moving to load a disc in the DVD player. "Really? You're already pregnant."
"We are," I corrected. "And they're for... after James is born."
Dimitri smiled and blushed. "Don't put ideas in my head, you tease."

Dimitri and I curled up at the head of the bed and he pressed play on the DVD player remote, starting the recording of our son's check up. A hand was run through my hair. I was kissed on my head and temple every time the measurements had come back with positive outcomes. The words we'd been told for each positive check replayed in my head. We were so lucky, so, so lucky. James had beaten all the odds so far and was going to keep it up, I just knew it. He was Dimitri's and my baby, he was a fighter, it was in his blood to survive and thrive.

A knock sounded on the door just as James handed his parents a kick both on screen and in me. The magical moment Dimitri had wanted so badly his son had gifted him, causing my badass god to tear up. He didn't even pause the disc before answering the door, let alone try hiding me or even my bag. Was he asking to be fired?
"I thought I heard bonding parents," laughed Jean as she forced her way in. I'll admit, jealousy and insecurity shot through me, inducing a crying fit. How many women did he let in his room? Was I the only woman he'd gotten pregnant? Or were there others? Was James one of many children?
"Roza, honey, shhh. I love you, Mommy," Dimitri cooed, his arms wrapped securely around my waist. He then kneeled beside his bed and started singing to James.

Jean'sPOV
Nearly every guardian on campus suspected Belikov was either the legitimate father of Rose's baby, or he was the step-father. I now had the proof in front of me as I watched the Russian god (as the kids called him) singing in Russian to a five months pregnant Rose Hathaway's baby bump. With the ultrasound playing in the background.

The baby was going to have Belikov's height, I could tell already. The other features would have to wait and be revealed.

It was far from every other day that one got to see a stoic guardian turn fatherly and speak in baby. Even if it was Russian, it was still mushy speak that only Rose had previously managed to pull out... well, it was still her doing it, I guess. What truly surprised me was when she started humming the lullaby he'd just finished. I caught Dimitri murmuring Rose's name in Russian and both worshipping the name James. Their son, I realised as I silently fled the scene.

I knew I should report them, but she was 18, and therefore age wise they could date. I left them be, returned to my room, and brushed my teeth. It was hard to swallow the sight of the Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov being all lovey-dovey and sweet expectant parents.