The day before Christmas was one of the nicest evenings I had ever had. Since I told Lissa I didn't want a baby shower because I didn't want anymore attention around the pregnancy, she decided as a compromise to give me a gift and the baby on for Christmas. I was continuing to get more and more worried as my due date got closer because the fact that I got pregnant before I was eighteen meant Victor Dadskov was right. Their was more than enough evidence in my age and the babies DNA to have Dimitri charged with an open shut case of statutory rape.
Lissa promised she would use every bit of her power to stop that from happening, but it still worried me. Currently, Lissa was more worried about her half sister she was just reintroduces to, Jillian. I could tell even though she invited her over and was kind to her, Jills entire existence bothered her. The small part of the Moroi who were still upset that Lissa won the crown were constantly sending threats to Jill, Lissa, Christian, and even me and Eddie. She didn't leave the house much now but I still was nervous. My mother and Eddie always went with her, because as much as I hated to admit it I was absolutely useless at all physical activity at the moment.
My parents, Christian, Lissa, Sydney, Adrian, Eddie, Jill, Dimitri and his family all were crowded into the living room after dinner, where Lissa insisted I open the babies present. Not only did half the people cheer her on, everyone had also got a gift for the baby as well. "Lissa..."
"It's not a baby shower, so don't get mad at me." I should've know she'd find a loophole in my request. She is honesty so kind and generous to me and I never fully understood why. The gift that made me cry was from my mother. It was a picture frame with two spots for photos. The bottom frame was empty, but next to the top was two little hand prints and a picture that at first confused me. When I understood the caption I felt emotion hit me like a train. The picture was an ultrasound that said, 'baby's first picture'. Under the hand print was my birthdate. And a small rose drawn at the end.
"Mom." I gave her a huge hug and forced myself to stop crying. Adrian gave me a giant box full of clothes for a newborn, and I noticed a lot of pink in the box which confused me. I held up one pink onesie in particular and he just gave me a sly smile. When I questioned him he didn't say anything except. "Just a hunch."
Lissa and Christian gave the largest and most practical gift, a stroller and car seat, and I almost cried again but held it together. My father simply gave me a card with a message I couldn't help but wonder about the logistics of. 'I can get you what you need when a problem comes around.' I thanked him and tried to push the mob boss side of him out of my mind.
The fire was lit, the lights where dim and everyone was sitting on the couches or on the floor just talking and enjoying the quiet evening. I was the first to start dozing off, but I didn't want to leave so I tried to stay awake for as long as possible. Eventually I snuggled into Dimitri's chest and pulled a blanket over me. I reached over and squeezed Viktoria's hand, incase I couldn't get up early enough to say goodbye later. I was sad they were leaving, but they wanted to spend Christmas evening at home too. She wished me a goodnight, so then everyone else looked at me and started saying goodnight too.
Dimitri looked down he could see my face. "Do you want to go to bed?" I shook my head.
"No, no I can go myself, you guys have fun."
"Come on then." Dimitri for the past few weeks has been almost scared of leaving me alone.
"You don't have to..." Lissa interrupted us.
"She can sleep on the couch if she wasn't." Even though I had miraculously found a comfortable position, and the baby had stopped kicking I didn't want Dimitri to sit all night in Lissa's liing room.
"Wake me up whenever you want to go to bed, I'll come then." Dimitri smiled at me and nodded. Of course, I woke up in the morning still on the couch curled on Dimitri's lap. Except now we a had a big blanket thrown over both of us and the lights where off. The sun was still setting so I could see outside. Where there was snow everywhere. Just as expected we were snowed in.
I easily fell a sleep for a while longer before I was woken up by a very excited Lissa. This morning Adrian, my father, Jill, and Sydney weren't here so we had a quieter celebration with pancakes and hot chocolate that Christian made. My mother was almost a different person, she was so friendly. I really appreciated all the time I could spend with Eddie now that he lived with Lissa and Christian because we haven't done that since Spokane.
Dimitri and Eddie planned to work out together while I was, out of operation, but they promised to take me with them, and let me do little things which I was happy with. Later we opened presents, and I felt bad because after opening all the gifts everyone got for the baby the night before I didn't really think I should've gotten anything else.
I gave Lissa a silver charm bracelet that Adrian charmed for me to help her with darkness, and a pair of shoes she would look good in. Of course she loved the shoes, but the charms i picked where what I knew she liked the most.
I gave Dimitri a frame with my first ultrasound, some novels I thought he would like, and on a less happy note I gave him all the letters I wrote to him after he left, that I strictly instructed him to wait to read. Eventually he did read them and that led to along day of just lying in bed together and him apoloizing nonstop. I didn't give them to him to make him feel guilty, he always asked about me before I moved to court too, but I never told him because I couldn't talk about it without loosing control of my dark thoughts.
For my mother a gave her a plain black jacket because I noticed hers was fading and frayed in a few spots. She really seemed to like it because she was someone who liked practical gifts.
I gave Christian a gag gift and something nice. He opened the fun one first and he couldn't hide his smile. It was an apron with fire printed onto it and kiss the cook sewn into it. As a more serious gift I gave him a framed picture of him and Lissa at the Equinox dance. I remember Mason and I laughing at them when he took it, but now it was kind of cute.
I didn't buy Eddie a gift. Instead I gave him the gift Mason had got him for last Christmas as well as a note from me. I never unwrapped Mason's wrapping so I had no idea what was in the box, but after he read my note I could tell he was trying hard to not cry. Eddie placed the unwrapped gift aside and before hugging me and handing me an envelope.
I opened the Christmas card and some prints fell onto my lap. They were all photos form just over a year ago. It was Mason in between the two of us with him arms around us. Eddie was holding up a plastic cup and laughing in all of them. Mason was pulling funny faces, and in one he was kissing my cheek. In all of them I had a smile that I didn't even associate with myself anymore because I looked so much younger and care free. When I reached the last photo, I was trying to hold back tears. Eddie flipped the picture over and I seen writing.
'Dear Rose, You're a babe, nice boobies. Mason" there was a little heart next to his name and that's when I lost control and started to laugh and cry at the same time. Imagining Mason saying that to me was funny, but the overwhelming guilt and sadness I felt because of his death again made my crying hysterical. I put the pictures aside and gave Eddie another hug but this time I didn't let go for a while. I repeatedly thanked him until finally I could control myself and dry my cheeks.
Lissa had given me a necklace. Not just any necklace, the one I wore to the Equinox dance. I gave her a look that asked my question before I could say it. "No, it's not the same one, but I seen it and charmed it to protect you this time." I hugged Lissa but thankfully didn't start crying again.
My mother gave me a card with some socks and leggings. Practical, I liked them so I gave her a hug and thanked her. Christian retorted with a gag gift as well, it was a decorative Black Rose in a plain white vase. In the card he made a joke about it being my twin, to which I punched him in the arm for, before giving him a brief hug.
The last gift I opened was from Dimitri. It was a small long box with a little note that was addressed it to me. I opened the box and gasped. It was a silver stake with small roses engraved around it near the top of the handle. It was much nicer than the one I had gotten after I graduated and seemed heavier and larger. When I held it in my hand it made a small clinging noise when it hit my engagement ring. I compared the two and instantly made the connection. They matched. The same silver made up the band and the roses where the same style. I gave him I kiss and I held it for a little longer than normal.
"Thank you, it's beautiful." The rest of the day was spent in blankets huddled around the tv with hot chocolate and eventually some alcohol. It was a special little celebration that made me feel at home and happy.

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