Abe got the property with an immediate settlement. Four and a half acres of prime fenced treed land, the huge house, and assorted outbuildings twenty minutes from Court. Hell knows what it cost him, but I was thrilled. It meant I had a job and a place for Rose and me to call home!

True to his word, Abe had an allocation contract drawn up that morning. I took a good look, and it was mostly standard. The only significant elements were that it specifically included Rose and her children in all my entitlements, including top of the range medical cover. I wasn't sure whether to be reassured or paranoid that she was also listed as the beneficiary of a very generous Guardian pension should something happen to me.

We were due to fly out later in the afternoon so we could be in Missoula by 9 am. So that gave me about three hours to come up with the perfect eighteenth birthday present for Rose. And I was struggling. I wanted to get her something she would always treasure, but I couldn't think of anything. So after checking that Rose was happy studying at the unit, I headed into the central shopping area looking for inspiration.

After our experience buying her pendant, I knew she was particular with jewelry, so I wasn't sure that would be a winner. I didn't want to get her anything to do with the baby – this was her eighteenth, and while she was expecting our child I wanted this celebration to be separate to that. I finally settled on three gift ideas. None of them the 'wow' gift I wanted, but I just couldn't think of anything.

Surprisingly the gifts were relatively easy to source, and when I looked at the three together, they didn't look too disappointing. On a whim, I added a fourth present and was satisfied. I had them all gift wrapped and spent ten minutes choosing a card. With gift buying completed I walked towards Guardian Headquarters, stopping along the way at the pâtisserie to purchase a selection of sweet treats for Rose.

Stepping inside the Guardian Headquarters was always soothing. Something about the meticulous order of the place appealed. I stopped at the front desk, pretending not to notice the appreciative glance the twenty-something Guardian on reception gave me.

"I'm here to hand in some allocation papers, but I was wondering whether Guardian Schoenberg is around?" I asked.

"He is. He's in a meeting with Guardians Erskine and Croft. Shall I tell him you're here?" she inquired.

"Never mind, that sounds important. I'll see him another time."

I was just walking through the double doors to hand in my papers when Schoenberg, Croft, and Erskine appeared at the other end of the corridor still discussing something.

"Belikov," Schoenberg greeted. "Good timing. Let me introduce you to Hans Croft. He's head of Guardians at Court." I shook hands with Croft. It was thoughtful of Art to introduce me; Hans could be a useful contact. "What are you doing up here this morning?" Schoenberg continued.

"Submitting allocation papers," I replied.

"Where did you end up?" he asked curiously.

"I've taken a private position," I admitted, "but I'll still be around. I'm to be the team leader at a local residence for Abe Mazur. He's bought a property about twenty minutes outside Court. It's live-in, and while I never thought I'd work privately, right now it offers everything I need."

Schoenberg smiled in understanding.

"Then I'm happy for you. And it's good news for us that you'll still be local. I meant what I said about nominating you for the Guardian Council."

"Still? As a private Guardian?" I said surprised.

"Well we've never had one on there," he admitted, "but private allocations are becoming more common. I think it's an oversight not to have at least one private Guardian on the Council."

I was surprised when Croft agreed.

"The world is changing. The threats we face are changing. We need to change, too." Schoenberg and Erskine didn't seem surprised by Croft's statement. It was obviously something they were used to hearing.

"Got time for a coffee, Belikov?" Schoenberg asked.

I checked my watch. "Yeah, I've got half an hour," I admitted. We bid farewell to the other men, Art following me to the allocations area where I handed in the forms. They were sighted, signed, stamped and submitted; so as of that moment I was a gainfully employed Mazur Guardian.

"So tell me about the Mazur position. How'd you come across that?" Art asked curiously as we walked back to the pâtisserie.

I quickly outlined the role, including the offer to make the cottage into a real home for Rose, the baby and I.

"Mazur is a friend of Rose's father. He heard about our situation and his offer was too perfect to refuse."

Art nodded, accepting that at face value.

"So when do you start?"

"We're flying to Montana this afternoon. It's Rose's birthday over the weekend, and she wants to celebrate it with her friends at the Academy. We're going to try to convince the Headmistress to allow Rose to complete her studies off-site. If we're lucky, we'll be moving into the property early next week."

"Let me know if the Headmistress gives you any trouble," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "Erskine or I can give her a call."

"Thanks, Art. I appreciate it."

"So how's the pregnancy going?" he asked. "How's Rose?"

"Good. She's had high blood pressure, so I'm meant to be keeping her calm, but with everything going on and all the pregnancy hormones that's easier said than done," I confided with a chuckle. "She has a scan due while we're in Montana, so I'm going to get to see the baby," I said with a grin.

"I'm glad it's all working out for you, Belikov. You make a man think, maybe there's hope for all of us."

I looked at Art in surprise. He was a Guardian through and through. I'd never known him to have any personal life.

"Someone caught your eye?" I asked him gently.

He shrugged.

"I'm forty-six, and she's younger. I doubt she'd look at me twice," he said laughing at himself. "And I wouldn't have a clue about how to go about asking her out anyway."

"It's not that hard. Just find a reason to spend time with her," I advised.

"She's a Guardian, so she's probably already seeing someone," he grumbled.

While committed open relationships between Guardians were rare, understandings between Guardians were common enough – ranging from casual hookups through to committed but very private relationships. With the imbalance between female and male Guardians, it was no secret that a female Guardian would have no shortage of potential suitors if she so desired.

"So about the Guardian Council," Art said, signaling the other topic closed, "I meant what I said. Talk to Mazur and see if he's ok with the idea of you joining. What's discussed would need to be kept confidential, and you might be asked to step out occasionally if something could be a conflict of interest, but I think it would be a good step for you professionally and also of benefit to the Council."

"I'll talk to Mazur about it," I promised, looking at my watch and standing to take my leave. "You'll have to come out to the property once we've got ourselves settled," I offered. "There's a spot near the cottage which is begging to have a barbecue built," I said with a grin. "I'll give you a call once it's ready!"

"You're on," Art replied with a smile, shaking my hand as I picked up the pastries and Rose's presents and started walking back to guest accommodations.

Back at the unit packing took no time at all. I didn't have much with me to begin with, and Rose was leaving the bulk of her purchases here, taking only what she needed for the weekend.

"Do you have much to transport from the Academy?" Abe asked us as we traveled in the van to Court's runway.

"Three or four boxes each," I answered for us. Neither Rose or I had much. We were starting from scratch.

"Might as well bring it all back then," Abe said giving us an encouraging look.

Before I knew it, we were on the plane and headed back to Montana. I hadn't even been back a week, and I had a new allocation, a new home, I was going to be living with the woman I loved, and we had a baby on the way. Things were moving so fast, but I was happy.

Rose was cuddled against my side tucked under my arm. She wasn't saying much, which was a dead giveaway she was feeling out of sorts.

"What's up, milaya?" I asked, watching her carefully as she brought her face up to look at me.

"This is going to be goodbye to the Academy and all my friends, isn't it?"

"For a little while," I said nodding. "Unless you'd rather stay at the Academy to study and I can try and fly out when I can to visit?"

"No," she said. "I want a place of our own. I want to be away from campus. I just want everything," she sighed.

"And you'll have it," I promised. "I want to help all your dreams come true, Roza. We'll be back to visit the Academy and your friends, and once the cottage is ready, they can visit us. I know it's not how you saw your senior year ending, and I'm sorry milaya." Again I was wracked with guilt. She must have noticed because she brightened up.

"It's ok. I'm looking forward to our new beginning. So… For my birthday… Have you got anything organized?"

"I might do," I said mysteriously, hoping I'd managed to cover my dismay and panic. "Did you have something in mind?"

"I did… But it would be hard to organize without Guardian support," she said batting her eyelashes at me. "I was thinking a sleepover in one of the common room lounges could be cool? Not everyone - just Eddie, Mason, Chelsea, Meredith, and Angela. And I should invite Lissa and Christian, too. If you and Celeste were to supervise that should be ok, shouldn't it? We could watch some movies and maybe get some pizza?"

"I'm sure we could do that," I said. "Are you sure you want me there? Wouldn't you rather just your friends?"

"No," she said petulantly. "I want them to meet my Dimitri. You're going to be around a while," she teased, "I'd like my friends to get used to us together. Unless you don't want to?"

"Of course I want to," I soothed. "Although I think we should keep any specifics about my allocation and our whereabouts a secret."

"Agreed. Lissa and Christian know I've been at Court with you, but nothing about Abe coming to tell me about my father. I say we just tell everyone you've accepted an allocation out of state and leave it at that."

Rose curled up against me closing her eyes resting, and I did the same. In a few days, we'd be living together in our own space. I'd never lived with a lover before, so I was sure it would be a learning curve. But I was excited. Despite all the challenges, life had never looked so sweet.

We touched down in Missoula. Pavel had organized a rental van for us at the airport. Since I'd accepted Abe's offer, there'd been a subtle shift in my interactions with Pavel. He was starting to keep me in the loop about plans and security. He was always near guard for Abe, and there was a tacit understanding that my job was protecting Rose. Although I knew better than to mention that to her.

"Belikov? You're driving. Mr. Mazur wishes to go to the mall. Call me once you're done with the doctor."

I nodded, situating Rose in the middle of the van beside her father. The safest spots. Shooting her a huge grin in the mirror, I did the usual vehicle safety checks before driving to the mall. We dropped off Abe, Pavel, and the other Guardians and then Rose climbed into the passenger seat beside me. It was half-past nine Friday morning, and I headed to the hospital where Rose had her appointment on Monday. I had a handful of notes in my wallet, and I wasn't above using them to get us an earlier scan.

Finding a park half a block from the hospital, I did a quick security check and came around to open Rose's door. We were both grinning like idiots, and I couldn't help myself – as I helped her from the van I picked up my woman and swung her around in a circle, setting her down on her feet in front of me and kissing her gently.

"Come on, milaya. Let's go see our baby!"

We walked hand in hand to the entry doors, negotiating our way through the corridors to the specialist's rooms. Finding the right door, Rose introduced herself and explained she had an appointment on Monday, but a sudden change of plans found us in town today.

"My boyfriend has only just returned from an overseas deployment. It's our first child, and as you can imagine he's keen to see our baby," she said with a sweet look at the receptionists.

"Take a seat dear; I'm sure doctor can squeeze you in."

Luck must have been on our side, because minutes later we were shown through to a consulting suite with an ultrasound machine.

"Rose," the Obstetrician greeted her not unkindly. "Nice to see you again. I take it this is baby's father? Corporal…?"

"Major Smirnov," I introduced myself, giving the man an extremely firm handshake. Smirnov was the most common surname in Russia – even more common than Smith in America. While there was no direct translation between Guardian rankings and those of the US Army, my Blood Master Seven, battle history, molnija, and allocation would put me at least at the Major level if not higher. Rose had stressed the need to make sure I didn't give my real name, so with my accent, I went for something generic but believable.

"Thank you for your service, Major," Rose's doctor said, his attitude undergoing a complete one-eighty.

I gave a dignified nod.

"Thank you for looking after my girl while I was away. As you can imagine, I was very concerned when I heard the circumstances of her last appointment. I also appreciate you squeezing us in today."

He smiled, turning to set up the equipment.

"Rose you're a day or two shy of eighteen weeks, and this is where we do the big scan. We're checking all anatomical structures are correct, and that everything is developing normally. We can usually tell you gender at this appointment if you wish?"

Rose looked at me for confirmation.

"Thank you, doctor. Unless there's a medical reason for us to know, then we'd like to keep it a surprise," she told him.

The Obstetrician nodded.

"You're in the minority these days – most couples like to find out. But I have to say a delivery is always extra special when the couple doesn't know if it's a boy or a girl. There's something particularly profound about meeting someone you know nothing about but love so much nonetheless."

Rose was looking at me lovingly, and I returned her look. She was lying on the examination couch, and I was sitting in the chair beside her. I had one of her hands between mine and was resting my lips against her fingertips. Rose pulled her dress up to expose her lovely little baby bump, and while the Obstetrician was still fussing with his equipment, I dropped a reverent kiss onto her bare belly. She lifted the hand I wasn't holding to stroke my hair.

The scan itself was pure magic. Suddenly the baby wasn't an abstract concept – a mere curve on the abdomen of my lover. I could see a head, arms, legs, and even a heart. I didn't know I was crying until Rose brushed my tears away.

"It's pretty miraculous, isn't it Comrade?" she whispered.

I didn't trust myself to speak; instead, I nodded kissing her hand and fingertips repeatedly.

"I'm going to do a check of baby's sex organs now. If you don't want to know, look away."

Obediently Rose and I turned from the monitor to gaze lovingly at one another.

"Everything looks perfect," he said. "What do you think you've got?"

"I think a boy," Rose said immediately.

"I think a girl," I followed.

"Well it's pretty clear on the scan, and I can say with ninety-nine percent accuracy one of you is right. You can look back now."

We sat holding hands as the doctor pointed out various other structures.

"You're perfectly on track, Rose, although baby is still measuring tall."

I smiled. Given my height, that was hardly unexpected.

"Is there anything else we need to know? Anything at all? I've been posted interstate, so we're leaving on Sunday…" I checked

"No. All is looking spot on with baby and Rose," he assured me. "I'll get Rose's files printed up now. Best wishes for the three of you."

It was my second day in Missoula. I was staying in a cheap motel at the edge of town lying low while I considered my options. I was doing a grocery and whiskey run when I saw them on the street. Dimka was twirling Rose around before he set her down and kissed her. It's lucky the street was quiet because I swerved - although I really wanted to slam on the breaks and throw up. Despite Christian's warning that the bitch was all over my man, seeing it with my own eyes was something else.

I pulled over down the road, watching in the rear-vision and side mirror as they walked hand in hand to the hospital. I was double-parked, and a honk alerted me to keep moving, so I made a quick trip around the block, parking about fifty meters down on the opposite side of the road where I could keep a close eye on the van they'd arrived in. Late model, gray, and nondescript, it was typical Guardian transportation. No doubt they'd borrowed it from the school.

As I was waiting, I carefully plaited my hair, wrapping the braid up onto my head and under a baseball cap. With a pair of aviators on and a magazine open in front of me, I looked like a Mom waiting for my kid outside the ballet studio I was parked in front of I assured myself.

I'd been waiting almost forty minutes when they reappeared. Hand in hand, Dimka led the little bitch over to the van, opening her door and helping her in. Even from here I could see the bump at her waist. I guess she was pregnant. Dimka came around and climbed into the driver's seat. He put a hand on either side of her face, and they kissed. It was passionate and loving. I wanted to smack the happy look off the stupid bitch's face.

Dimka started the van and pulled out. I stared at his beautiful face as he drove towards me down the road. He was grinning joyously, so I knew, even if it was subconscious, he must know I was close. I executed a U-turn, causing a driver behind me to slam on their brakes. Flipping them the bird, I followed the van a car back. They were headed to the edge of town, but I lost them when they went through a light, and the car in front of me stopped on the yellow. I swore in three languages, having to calm myself down to prevent myself setting the old man's Oldsmobile on fire.

I cheered myself up by acknowledging that they were still around. I'd worried the little bitch might take Dimka away somewhere, and then they'd be all but impossible to find. So trying to see the glass as half full, I consoled myself that my man was close by – and for the first time in so very long, I'd seen him.

I tried to follow them once the light was green, but they were long gone. I suspected they'd headed to the mall – there wasn't that much else over this side of town. There was no point following them, so I drove back to the motel, stopping to pick up a couple of fifths of whiskey on the way.

I lay on the saggy bed in the tired run down motel drinking whiskey straight from the bottle. It was Friday morning human time. They'd probably head back to the Academy soon to get some sleep ready for Friday Moroi time. Running my plans over in my head I decided to stay here a little longer. If I slept now and went back to campus during daylight tomorrow, there'd be next to no one awake to see me. I could hide out in the cabin I'd stayed in last time and wait for my opportunity to catch Dimka alone. To show him that I was the woman he wanted. The woman in his heart of hearts he wanted to be with.

Abe was grinning like a Cheshire cat when we pulled up at the mall to collect him and his Guardians.

"How was the scan?" he asked eagerly.

"Perfect," I said shooting my Comrade a giddy smile. Somehow seeing our baby together, and witnessing my Russian God cry with joy had brought us even closer together. Now all I wanted to do was get back to the Academy, have a shower and climb naked into bed next to my man. "What's that smell?" I asked suspiciously, my stomach rumbling.

"I thought you might be hungry, so I bought you both Chinese takeout. They made it fresh, so it's safe for the baby," Abe said virtuously.

"Gimmee!" I groaned, not aware how hungry I was until right now.

Pavel passed me a food container filled with rice and beef and veg in black bean sauce along with a plastic fork. Not my favorite, but it still tasted good.

"Roza? Slow down – you'll get indigestion," Dimitri laughed beside me, opening a sweet and sour pork.

"That's my favorite!" I growled, quickly exchanging containers and all but inhaling mine. I was already done before my Russian God was halfway through his. "Are you going to finish that?" I asked hopefully, eyeing his container.

"Be my guest, milaya," he said lovingly before Pavel interrupted.

"There's more if you're still hungry?" he said, handing over a paper bag of deep fried spring rolls and another plastic container. This one had chicken, cashews, and vegetables.

"Aww Comwad," I gurgled through my overfull mouth. "Thwis twastes awethome!"

I could see Dimitri and the other Guardians laughing at me, but I didn't care. I was hungry! I had finished most of the second tub, and all of the spring rolls before my appetite was satiated. I handed the rest of the chicken and cashew to Dimitri to finish. We'd been less than ten minutes from the airport, yet somehow I'd managed to scoff almost two food containers worth of food and a bag of spring rolls before we arrived.

"Come on," Dimitri said as I was close to slipping into a food coma. I was full. I was happy. It was late. I was sleepy! "Are you too tired to walk?" he asked with amusement.

I nodded sheepishly. It was only half a lie. I was fatigued, but I could have walked. I just wanted him to carry me. Lifting me and carrying me from the van to the plane, Dimitri had me tucked in and buckled up in no time. The flight was short – we were barely in the air before we were landing at the Academy.

Dimitri shouldered our bags before unbuckling me from my seat.

"You look exhausted. Let's get you up to my room and into bed," he whispered lovingly, carrying me towards the van. I must have fallen asleep cradled on his lap in the back of the van, because that was the last thing I remembered.