I woke up at 7 pm Friday, naked and cuddled up tightly against my Russian God. We were in his Academy dorm room, and he was still asleep. I opened my eyes and looked at him – marveling at how handsome he was. I knew neither of us was meant to be here; he was now a Mazur Guardian, and I was still officially a student - but sleeping separately just wasn't an option anymore.

I suppose Abe and his Guardians must be in guest accommodation I thought idly as I smoothed some unruly hairs back from Dimitri's face. He was smiling and looked so relaxed. I, on the other hand, was getting a little hot and bothered. Something about his strong arms wrapped around me, and one of his long legs resting between mine. Rolling back a little, I moved out of his grasp. He rolled onto his back but grumbled in his sleep, so I snuggled back against his side, enjoying his arm pulling me against him and his happy smile returning. Looks like he was enjoying sleeping in the same bed as much as I was.

I trailed my hand down his chest and underneath the quilt. I was nearly to his thighs when I realized that not all of him was asleep. In fact, a rather sizeable part of him was awake and standing to attention. With a cheeky little look to check he hadn't woken, I wrapped my hand around his shaft, pumping it up and down. He smiled more in his slumber, before his plump full lips fell open and he was making the sexiest soft grunts as I tightened my grasp around his manhood and increased speed.

His long dark eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks as he opened his eyes with a groan. He rolled towards me, snaking his fingers into my hair and pulling my lips to his. We kissed until I could barely breathe. Pulling away, we were both panting – for oxygen but also out of need.

"Get on your knees," he whispered urgently.

I jubilantly complied, already wanting him. He knelt between my calves, softly stroking my sex.

"Always so ready," he marveled at my wetness, slowly sliding his length inside me. My forearms and head resting on the mattress, I used one of his pillows to silence my excited groan. I needed this, and by the feel of it, he did too. Dimitri immediately set a brisk pace. This wasn't going to be a leisurely morning of lovemaking – we both needed a release, and he was determined we were going to get it!

We were doing our best to be quiet, but the bed was creaking loudly, there was the sound our skin made every time it connected, and finally neither of us was able to completely silence the little moans and gasps as we came closer to climaxing.

"Roza…" Dimitri groaned softly in warning. He must be close to coming undone, but he always tried to hold back to give me satisfaction first.

I was near, so reached between my legs to stimulate myself. It was the final thing I needed, and I started to cum almost instantly. Dimitri roared as he felt my core clench around him. Grasping my hips firmly he pulled me against him as his cock began to spasm with his orgasm, and together we danced on the edge of physical ecstasy. Finally coming down from our highs, Dimitri was rubbing the base of my spine with his large calloused hand. Pulling himself out of me, I flopped onto my side, him following to spoon behind me gently.

"Hmm. Comrade that was very satisfying," I complimented with a little giggle.

"I aim to please, Roza," he murmured in my ear, nuzzling the soft skin on the side of my neck.

"I could stay here all day," I muttered.

"So could I, but we need to pack, and I thought you'd want to see your friends? Plus you need food."

He was right.

"The baby's going nuts again," I laughed, sitting up and stretching luxuriously, enjoying Dimitri's eyes on me as I walked across to his bathroom.

"You've popped," he said, looking at my midriff. I had no idea what he meant. I used the toilet and was walking across to choose some clothes from my bag when I caught a glimpse of myself in his wardrobe mirror.

"Fuck!" I exclaimed. He was right. My baby bump was like twice the size it was yesterday. "I'm huge!" I wailed.

"You're gorgeous," he reassured me. "So beautiful." Climbing out of bed, he stood behind me, engulfing me in his arms as we stood in front of the mirror. "Look. Still tiny next to me," he said lovingly.

"I blame you and your freakishly tall Russian genes," I grumbled half-heartedly. "You heard the doctor – our baby is going to be a giant."

"Our baby is going to be beautiful just like her mother."

"No, he's going to be handsome like his father."

"We'll see," Dimitri said with a grin, rubbing my belly. "How about we have some breakfast then we'll come up here and start packing? I'm not sure whether Abe wants you there when he's talking to Kirova, but if not we can go across and pack your room. Or maybe that's something you'd like to do after class with Lissa?"

He was right. I hadn't left things well with Lissa, and we needed to talk some more.

"Come on then," I said slipping on a pair of jeans and a floaty empire line top. It was so unlike the usual Rose Hathaway style, but I had to admit it was very girly and quite cute. I adjusted my garnet necklace, so the pendant hung about an inch above the edge of the top.

"You still wear it every day?" Dimitri noticed.

"I only take it off to shower," I said, giving it a quick kiss and him a longer one.

I sat on the edge of the bed and admired as Dimitri got dressed. Simple jeans and a lightweight sweater for him – he still looked delicious. He made a quick call to Pavel to confirm plans for the day, so I grabbed my phone and texted Lissa.

Back on campus. Meet at the cafeteria in five?

The phone was silent for a few seconds before a text pinged back.

I'll quickly go to the feeders first. Make it ten.

Dimitri opened his door and checked carefully. The hallway was clear, so he slipped out of the door, me following him. And right at that moment, the dorm door opposite opened to reveal Stan. Dimitri said nothing, but I could see his shoulders tense slightly.

Stan and I looked at one another warily before I said cheerfully, "Morning Guardian Alto."

"Rose. Belikov," he greeted awkwardly trying to pretend we weren't walking out of Dimitri's bedroom together so early in the morning. "How was Court?"

"Full of stuck up Moroi," I replied without thinking.

I saw Dimitri's lips twitch and Stan actually smiled.

"Yeah well – you get that," he admitted with a chuckle, carefully looking around to make sure we hadn't been overheard. The three of us walked down to breakfast only a little uncomfortably. Dimitri fell into step beside Alto and talked about professional gossip from Court.

We were nearly at the cafeteria when Stan asked, "So Rose? Will we see you back in classes on Monday?"

I looked at Dimitri who gave a small nod, letting me know it was ok to tell him.

"I'm not sure," I admitted. "There's a chance I might be completing the year off campus, flying back in for my exams."

Stan looked surprised. "That's unusual…"

"I know. But a lot is going on. It might end up being the best solution."

"Well let me know," he said. "I can keep you up to date on what we're covering in my classes, and I am sure Belikov can answer any practical questions you might have."

It was all I could do not to crack up laughing. Alto's 'teaching' consisted of reading aloud from the book almost verbatim, occasionally interjecting historical examples or more often telling off a student – usually me. I'd probably learn more by just reading the book myself – which is exactly what I intended to do.

"Thanks. Can I email you if I have any questions?" I asked innocently. I could see Dimitri smirking behind Stan's back, but Alto was eating it up.

"Certainly. I know it will be hard to study remotely, so by all means email if you need help," he agreed generously.

I thanked him, and we walked into the cafeteria, heading our separate ways. Eddie and Mason were already at our table, so I walked over and sat down while Dimitri lined up to get our food.

"Hey! Look at you," Mason said giving me a quick hug. "I had to hear via Lissa that you'd gone to Court."

"Sorry – everything just happened so quickly. I've had high blood pressure, so Dr. Olendzki gave me a week off class. Dimitri had to go to Court to discuss a new allocation, so I went with him."

"But you're back," Mason chirped happily.

"I am – and I'm checking you've got tomorrow night free? For my eighteenth?"

"Sure do," Mason replied, Eddie agreeing enthusiastically.

"What are you planning?" Eddie asked as Dimitri placed my tray in front of me before sitting gracefully next to me with his own.

"You'll have to ask Dimitri," I said, looking at my man.

"I still have to check with Alberta," he admitted. "But I was thinking maybe a sleepover in one of the common rooms? With movies and pizza?"

Eddie and Mason looked impressed. A film was nothing special – but a sleepover? That would be impossible without a Guardian supervising, and understandably they weren't usually lining up to volunteer to supervise birthday parties.

"Hey, girl!" Celeste said, coming over and sitting opposite me and next to Mason. "Almost didn't recognize you wearing that," she teased. "Hey D," she added affectionately.

"Hey. Who's guarding Lissa tomorrow night?" I asked.

"That would be me. I have the eight to eight," she replied, meaning the 8 am – 8 pm shift.

"Awesome!" I enthused. "It's my eighteenth tomorrow, and I was hoping to do a sleepover and movies in the common room. Lissa and Christian will be invited – you up for supervising with Dimitri?"

"Will there be popcorn?" she asked Dimitri.

"Absolutely!" he promised. "I plan to make a mountain of the stuff."

"You're on then – provided the Princess is there of course."

"Provided I'm where?" Lissa asked a little uncertainly from behind me. Celeste immediately straightened up a little.

"My birthday party!" I said enthusiastically, scooting over a little closer to Dimitri to make room for Lissa on the end of the bench I was sitting on. "We were thinking a slumber party and movie night? Please tell me you can come? Tomorrow night? Christian too, of course," I clarified. I would be fine if Christian decided not to grace us with his presence, but I knew with everything that had happened, Lissa wouldn't come unless Christian did.

"Come on – it will be fun!" I continued. "Dimitri's going to make popcorn… It won't be right if you're not there."

I knew I had her then. I could tell from the bond she, like me, was already feeling immensely guilty about how things stood between us.

"I'll even let you paint my nails," I tempted.

"Of course I'll be there," she said with a tentative smile. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Christian either."

I smiled, knowing it was going to take a lot of convincing to get Christian to attend.

"Great!" I grinned. "I'm still not allowed back at classes, but if you're free maybe we could catch up after school this afternoon? Just the two of us? I might have to see Kirova, but I can text you?"

"I'd like that," she said, before looking over her shoulder to where Christian sat with Brandon and some of the other royal Moroi.

"Me too. I'll probably see you later," I said with a smile, letting her know I was ok with her going to sit with the Moroi instead of with us.

The chat went back to casual banter after she left. Chelsea came and sat next to Eddie, followed a little later by Meredith and Angela. Plans were made for the following night then the bell rang, the Novices and Celeste stood to go to classes.

"I can't wait to catch up tomorrow night," I said affectionately to Celeste. "I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too," Celeste replied, giving me a quick hug. "You're looking gorgeous by the way!"

The cafeteria quickly cleared.

"Let's go see Alberta and then we can pack my room," Dimitri suggested, so we walked hand in hand to the older Guardian's office. Welcoming us with a smile, Dimitri held my hand as he broke our news to her.

"I've got an allocation, Alberta," he announced proudly. "Obviously keep it to yourself, but Abe has bought a place just outside of Court. It's a large property, and he's leaving a small number of Guardians to manage the place when he's not in town. It's a live-in position, there's a cute little cottage that's ours if we want it, and he's offered me the commander position. It's good money, conditions, and entitlements. The cottage is pretty crappy at the moment, but I'm going to spend the summer getting it ready for Rose and the baby. We'll be extending it to have three bedrooms, a brand new kitchen, and laundry, formal lounge, and dining as well as an open kitchen, meals, and living area."

"It's only twenty minutes out of town, so you can stay with us when you visit Court," I said in a voice that only broke a little.

"I should hope so," Alberta said with a big grin. "And I plan to be visiting Court a lot, just so you know." I knew she was telling me I wouldn't be abandoned or alone.

"Abe is going to meet with Kirova today and see if I can complete my studies off campus and fly back for my exams," I said quietly. Alberta nodded – I could tell she'd anticipated this might happen. "If she approves it I'll be packing my things and leaving on Sunday."

"While I'm here you'll always have a home at St. Vladimir's, Rose. You too, Dimitri," Alberta promised.

I stood up and walked around the desk to give the stalwart woman a hug, tearing up again. She returned my hug fiercely, looking over my shoulder to Dimitri.

"You'd better take care of her, Belikov. She and the baby or I swear I'll hunt you down," she said with a menacing smile. I knew she was teasing. Kind of.

"I'd expect no less, Alberta," he said raising his hands up in front of him in acquiescence but smiling.

"Soo… Any chance I can have a sleepover in one of the common rooms tomorrow night for my eighteenth?" I asked. "Dimitri will help supervise, and Celeste said she would too. No alcohol – just movies, pizza, and popcorn."

"Who would be attending?" she asked cautiously. I smiled. Alberta knew better than to agree to a proposal from me without checking out all the particulars.

"Dimitri and me, Celeste, Lissa, Christian, Mason, Eddie, Chelsea, Meredith, and Angela. Celeste is on duty with Lissa anyway but said she's happy to help Dimitri supervise. I haven't told them yet, but if Kirova agrees it will be my last night living on campus…"

"Yes alright. But since the Princess is attending, hold it in the upper Moroi common room. That block is more heavily guarded," Alberta explained.

"Yeah, and it has a TV like twice the size," I mumbled under my breath. Even the Moroi common rooms were bigger and better than ours, and while the upper Moroi common room wasn't the largest, it did have the largest TV, soda on tap and the biggest softest sofas imaginable.

"Well there is that," Alberta acknowledged with a grin. "I'll authorize closing it from say 7 am?" she said with a laugh.

We headed by the storeroom to pick up some boxes before going to Dimitri's room. I shivered. This is how it was last time – on the day my heart was ripped out of my chest.

"It's different this time," Dimitri assured me with a smile knowing the direction of my thoughts, rubbing my tummy and dropping a kiss onto my temple.

"It is," I agreed as we climbed back up to his room. He'd been right – his stuff didn't take long to pack. It wasn't even lunchtime, and we were done. So we lay back on his bed and started a conversation I'd been wanting to have for a while. Baby names!

"I'd still really like him or her to be a Belikov," I said shyly looking at Dimitri.

"Are you sure?" he asked nervously but with excitement. "It's a big thing… It pretty much announces to the world that we're a family. Especially given most people won't know Junior is mine."

"I'm sure. And I want the traditional Russian patronymic, too, if you're ok with that? Dimitrievich for a boy and Dimitrievna for a girl. Is that right?"

"It is, milaya."

"Have you thought of first names?" I asked, sitting up against the bed head while he laid his head in my lap, kissing and caressing my bump.

He named a few, and I immediately vetoed anything floral or even remotely Scottish. I told him my list of boys' names, and while he liked them, he ruled out two or three based on people he knew. He didn't say it, but I could tell my frontrunner was his too. We then went through talking girls names. And it took ages. A lot of the names he liked I couldn't say correctly or just sounded weird in my opinion, but eventually, we got a list of three girls names we both liked.

We wandered down to lunch, Dimitri outlining all the things we'd need for the nursery. Again I was grateful I had his help – some of the things he mentioned I'd never heard of. I'd just started eating my lasagna when my phone beeped with a message. It was Abe. He had an appointment with Kirova at 2.30 am but wanted to meet at 1.30 am to go through our 'strategy'. Personally, I felt the best strategy was to keep me as far away from Kirova as possible, but I kept that thought to myself when I texted back confirming I'd be at his unit in guest accommodations then.

I hadn't told any of my friends about Abe coming forward on behalf of my father, and now given Dimitri was going to work for him I thought it better not to mention it at all. Honestly, all they'd have is questions I didn't have answers for. So we kept the chat general over lunch. With half an hour to kill before meeting Abe, Dimitri and I thought to visit Dr. Olendzki to hand back the blood pressure monitor and discuss the readings.

She went through the readings and overall she was satisfied.

"What happened here?" she asked pointing to the reading I'd taken after I'd been convinced Dimitri and I were going to be separated again.

"I had a pregnancy meltdown," I admitted, looking at Dimitri's amused smile. "And you can shut up, Comrade," I threatened before he had a chance to say anything. "Don't say a word!"

"I wouldn't dare," he promised a smile still tugging at his lips.

"I might be having some mood swings and getting a little emotional at times," I admitted.

Dr. Olendzki laughed.

"It comes with the territory, I'm afraid. Now you've had the scan have you thought about birthing options?"

Dimitri gave me a look.

"I have actually. Dimitri has accepted an out of State allocation, so it might be a matter of finding a new doctor to take care of us. However since I'm due at the end of August, and campus would be quiet, I was wondering whether maybe we could have the baby here? The baby and I are covered by Dimitri's health policy, so we can pay. But with the pregnancy being unique we thought it might be better to be somewhere with people we knew and trusted."

Dr. Olendzki looked thoughtful.

"We can certainly handle a standard delivery here, but should anything go wrong we're a long way from anywhere," she cautioned. "We'd have to transfer you to Missoula and two hours in a delivery is a long time…"

"What if we had a plane on standby?" Dimitri asked thoughtfully. "My employer has made it clear he's prepared to be very generous with his resources to make sure Rose gets the best possible care."

"That would make me feel a lot more comfortable," Dr. Olendzki admitted. "Complications in Dhampir deliveries are rare, but I'd like to be prepared. Baby can come anytime from thirty-seven to forty-two weeks, though. You need to be prepared to stay on campus during that time," she cautioned.

"I'd like that. You have to remember, St. Vladimir's is where I've spent most of my life. It's my home," I said tearing up.

Dimitri wrapped his arms around me soothingly. He ran through details with Dr. Olendzki. She'd need to hire in some of the required equipment but provided Alberta and Kirova approved, she agreed to deliver our baby.

"Ours won't be the first one you've delivered, will it?" I asked nervously.

"Far from it, Rose. I worked in a remote Dhampir community in Romania after I did my training. I've delivered plenty of babies," she assured me.

It was time to go to see Abe, which we did. Dimitri wasn't to come with us to see Kirova, but he sat beside me as Abe ran through how he intended to handle it. We told him about our hopes for me to deliver our baby at the Academy and he promised to raise it with Kirova. My part of the plan was to sit quietly, look demure and say nothing. Which is exactly what I ended up doing.

I went to the gym while Rose and Abe saw Kirova. I was out of routine and had nervous energy to get rid of. There was a junior class at one end, but they paid me no mind as I ran through my usual sequences. That was one thing I missed – Rose's company training. Once we were settled at the property, I hoped she'd be able to join me again, even if it was basic strength training or pregnancy yoga. I felt the need for us to get back some type of normal.

I was smiling thinking about Rose's little pregnancy meltdowns. She'd been a lot better than I expected she might have been. It was hard to believe in a few months time she'd be a mother. And I'd be a father. I was sitting on the bench catching my breath when it hit me. I was going to be a Papa. A little person would be relying on Roza and I. For everything!

My father was no shining example. What if I turned out like him? What if I wasn't good enough? What if I completely screwed it up? Or wasn't able to support Roza adequately? My breath started coming faster, and I could feel the adrenaline of panic starting to flood my system. I closed my eyes, trying to take deep breaths to calm myself. I pulled my phone from my bag, fingers fumbling as I pressed the long familiar digits.

The phone was answered. Karolina.

"Karolina… I'm going to be a Papa," I said in a panicked voice.

And she laughed! My big sister laughed at me!

"Hang on – I'll get Mama," she said. In the background, I could hear her say, "Mama? It's Dimka. It's finally sunk in…"

Mama was chuckling when she came on the line. She listened to my panicked ramblings, calming me down and reassuring me. Once I'd regained my composure, I told her about Rose's father coming forward via Zmey and my new allocation.

"I know I said I'd never work privately, but it's just ended up as the best solution for Roza and the baby," I explained apologetically. "And I'm looking forward to working on the cottage. I have this desire to do something practical to prepare for the baby."

"Women aren't the only ones to nest you know. I know you can only remember the demon in your father, but when we were expecting Karolina and then you, he was very excited. He spent hours trying to put the cot together," she said in a fond voice I rarely heard from her.

"But he changed. What if I become him?" I whispered, voicing my greatest fear.

"You won't," she promised me. "You're not him. And your Rose is a match for you in a way I never was for your father. He loved me, at least for a time, but he never respected me. You don't treat someone you consider an equal the way he treated me."

I felt all my tension leaving my system. Mama was right. I did consider Roza my equal. The idea of hurting her was repugnant.

"Thanks, Mama," I said happily, one fear now laid to rest.

We spent a few more minutes talking, Mama telling me about a few jobs she was having done around the house to make it more comfortable, then updating me on my niece and nephew as well as Sonya's pregnancy. She was due in a couple of months now and according to Mama was getting even more cantankerous. Good time to be in America, I thought to myself.

"I was thinking, after Sonya's baby arrives might be a good time for me to visit you in America? See how Rose feels about it. I thought perhaps I could stay for the birth and then go home?"

"I'll check with Roza," I promised. "She's hoping to have the baby at St. Vladimir's, so you could probably stay in guest accommodations," I mused thoughtfully. "Leave it with me."

We rang off after I promised to Skype again with Rose in a few days once we were back at Court.

I showered and was coming out of the gym when Rose texted to say she was out of the meeting with Kirova and all had gone well. I met them walking back towards the guest accommodation, and Abe explained that Rose would be studying off campus and she and I would fly back as necessary for her exams.

"I've also arranged to hire the gym and guest accommodation facilities here at St. Vladimir's for the end of August before classes resume. I'll be bringing in the majority of my Guardians and location commanders for an intensive training program. It's something Pavel has been suggesting for a while, but it's been hard to find somewhere big enough. St. Vladimir's is perfect," Abe explained, nodding to his chief Guardian.

I gave Abe an awed look, and he shrugged as if to say, 'It's only money.' I wondered how long it was going to take Rose to figure it out, and how large the explosion was going to be when she did. She was pretty distracted at the moment, but she wasn't stupid.

"I thought I'd spend the afternoon packing my room. With Lissa," my woman said giving me a meaningful look.

Make myself scarce. Understood. I had my favorite book in my duster pocket and was considering spending an hour or two in the Guardian's lounge when Pavel suggested we meet to rough out staffing and plans for the new property. So after agreeing to meet Rose for dinner at 7 am, I trailed Abe and Pavel back to guest accommodations.

"When was this one taken?" Lissa asked curiously, looking at the photo of Dimitri and me just after he'd taken my virginity. "Hang on – are you two in bed?"

"In Missoula. And yeah – it was right after we you know for the first time. We were feeling so loved up, so we took a photo."

"You took so many pictures," she observed.

"Yeah, well he wasn't expected to come back... I didn't want to forget anything," I explained.

"It must have been unbearable when he left," she observed sadly.

"It was. If it hadn't been for Celeste, I would never have made it through," I admitted. "She knew about his posting and had a fair idea there was a lot more than friendship between Dimitri and me."

We were sitting side by side on my bed.

"So Dimitri has a new allocation," I told her watching her reaction. "It's out of State. He's leaving on Sunday."

"You're going with him, aren't you?"

"I am," I whispered. "This is our shot, and we need to take it." Lissa started to cry and so did I. "I'm sorry…"

"No, I'm sorry. You're right in what you said. About everything. You looked after me for so long I forgot you had needs, too. But I'm still going to be an Aunt," she said with a wan smile. "You're still my sister."

We hugged both crying.

"So? Going to help me pack?" I asked through my tears. I already had the boxes, so it was a matter of sorting, throwing and packing. I didn't have much, but almost everything I owned had a memory attached. We laughed and talked and remembered things from years ago.

"So where are you going?" Lissa asked.

"Dimitri and I have decided not to tell anyone. It's nothing personal but with Tasha and everything if you don't know you can't let anything slip. You've got my new number, and as soon as I'm settled, I'll email you with my new email address. And you can always get a message to me through Alberta. I promise you as soon as I can, I'll tell you and maybe you can come visit."

"You won't be living in Guardian accommodation?"

"No. The place we're going has a cottage. It's pretty shitty at the moment, but Dimitri is going to work on it and do it up for us. It's beautiful, Lissa. Well, it will be. It has a huge porch, and Dimitri promised to put in a porch swing for me. It's nothing like the life I thought I'd be living, but I'm looking forward to it," I admitted.

"It sounds beautiful," she said, and I could tell she meant it. "So when will I see you again?"

"Soon," I laughed. "I have to fly back in a few times for my exams and then graduation."

"You're going to graduate? I thought you meant you were dropping out?"

"God no," I laughed. "I didn't work this hard to catch up to throw it all away! I'm going to graduate and take my promise. I just won't be working as a Guardian straight away. I probably won't work full time, but when the baby is older, I'd like to do a few shifts a week."

"Well if anyone can make it work it's you," Lissa said proudly. And through the bond, I could tell she meant it.