It was early morning and I was surprisingly exhausted from what had just happened. So I didn't go as far as I thought. There's small town about 45 minutes from court. It had a small liquor store, a gas station, a 24hr diner, and few other small town stores. I pulled into the diner parking lot got out of Sapphire (that's the name of my car) and walked into the diner. It was a 50s style diner and when I say 50s style diner I mean nothing has changed since the 50s. The original black and white checkered floors, original bright teal chairs with booths to match and last but certainly not least a jukebox with the original music from when it was installed surprisingly it still worked. I was gonna sit at the counter but decided not to so I chose a booth next to window. As I sat I heard Elvis' Hound Dog playing in the background. I hardly notice the waitress walk over. She was probably about 60 she had a sliver and brown ponytail with a pen in it she looked tired but ready to help anyone in need.

She spoke with a warm smile, "Hello honey how are you my name is Vanessa do you need a minute or are you ready?"

Me and Dimitri came here from time to time so I already kind of knew the menu.

"Can I just get some fries with a side of ranch and a Diet Coke is cool.", I spoke without looking at her.

"Alright, be right up.", she said that smile never leaving her face.

"When she left I just stared out the window. It was early summer, I could see birds flying from try to tree. As I looked out the window at the birds I started replying what happened in court. Guilty. Tasha Ozera was found guilty and will be sent to Tarasov to live out her crimes. We would never see or hear from Tasha again. But why was I the one consumed with guilt. I feel like everything is my fault. Maybe it's because Tasha was my friend. She had been there for me-been there for Lissa too. She's played a huge role in Christian's life and he would never be able to hug her again. I'm pretty sure Lissa will make it so Christian could go anytime to see her and they'll probably write to each other all time but that's not the same. Ugh. Maybe I should've taken the fall for Tasha. I immediately dismissed that thought. Man how guilty could I feel about something I wasn't involved in. I jumped when I felt my phone buzzed it was a text from Dimitri. It read:

Where did you go? I thought you were coming home after court.

I replied:

Needed some air so I went for a drive.

He immediately responded:

Okay Roza. Drive safe. Love you.

It was then that I noticed my soda sitting there. Wow I thought to myself this waitress is fast I didn't even notice her put it down. Once again I almost didn't see her until she was right next to me setting down my food.

"Alright," said the waitress, "Big hot plate of fries and a big ol'side of ranch."

Wow this lady must know I love to eat. She brought over a mountain of fries and a big bowl of ranch. I mindlessly ate my fries and drank my soda. I just felt like a ripped a perfectly good family apart and silenced a major activist for Moroi fighting alongside guardians. The more I thought about it the more I kinda became less guilty because honestly if Tasha killed Tatiana and got away with it whose to say she wouldn't have killed Lissa too. I was starting to feel less guilty at the thought of that. So maybe it was a good thing that she's gonna be locked away forever. My phone buzzed again this time it was a text from Lissa:

Come to my place when you can I really need to talk to you.

I replied:

Okay. I'll be there soon.

With that I waved at the waitress for my check. I was digging in my pocket for some change when she walked back over. I hardly noticed a giant piece of warm chocolate cake in her hand. She set it down and in the other hand produced a can of whip cream and put a good amount on top of the cake.

She patted my shoulder and smiled at me with that warm smile of hers, "Looks like you need this honey. Whatever happened I promise this cake will help you feel better."

I chuckled and smiled up at her, "Thanks."

She dropped my check and walked away. I scarfed down that piece of chocolate cake and she was right I did feel better. I only had a couple 20 dollar bills my check was only $3.85 so I dropped a 20 and left. I got in my car and only then I had noticed that I had no gas in my car. So I stoped at the gas station. I had to walk in to pay. So when I got in there I just walked up and down the small aisles looking for a snack I grabbed a bag of sweet tarts for me and a snickers for Lissa and stopped when I saw the pads. I looked at them and counted my fingers.

"Hmm," I said to myself, "3 days late. No biggie."

I started to walk away and at the end of the aisle I saw they had pregnancy tests. I stopped looked at them and decided to grab one just to prove Dimitri wrong. He was wrong right he had to be life just didn't work that way unfortunately. I paid for my stuff, pumped my gas, and head back to court. Once parked I got out and took the long walk to Lissa's "palace". It really wasn't a palace more like a mansion I just called it that because it bugged her. I knocked on her door one of her housekeepers cracked the door her name was Sofia she was older 70 maybe she had black hair with sliver streaks and was the sweetest old lady you could ever meet.
"Why hello Rose, Lissa is expecting you she's in the upstairs lounge." She opened the door wider to let me in.

She walked me upstairs and into the lounge. It was kind of a long walk I felt kinda bad she had to walk me all the way there. No matter how many times I told her I knew my way and she didn't need to take me she always insisted stating it was her job and she was more than happy to walk me so today I decided not to protest to her.

To my surprise she asked, "No protest today?"

I laughed nervously, "No I…just don't feel good today."

"Oh would like you like me to bring you some tea when you're seated."

"No. No thank you," I said sharply.

I think she got the hint and dropped the conversation. I didn't mean to be rude but I honestly I just didn't feel like myself we walked into the lounge at the same time the conversation ended. Lissa's lounge was huge it had a giant brown wrap around couch that fit the giant room perfectly. It also had huge glass French doors that lead out to a balcony as well as a huge 85 inch flat screen with surround sound and every streaming service you could think of and it wouldn't be complete without every game system from Atari to the brand new PlayStation 5 including every game for every system placed neatly in the wall. It also held a mini bar, a snack bar, and a fridge full of all types of juices, waters, and soda.

Sofia cleared her throat, "Guardian Rosemarie Hathaway here to see the Queen Vasilisa Dragomir."

Lissa was laying out on her couch her laptop open with her notebook out and books everywhere. She was majoring in world politics but she was also studying ancient history as an elective. She looked beautiful, regal actually and I couldn't put my finger on it but she had this natural glow coming off her I couldn't figure out where it was coming from because I know she was not happy about what happened today.

"Rose! What the hell I went over to your house after court you weren't there," she stood up and walked over to me and grabbed my arm, "Thanks Sofia you may go now."

She bowed and closed the door behind her. Lissa was making room for me on the couch she was grabbing her notes and putting them in order. I had just sat on her couch when she spoke again.

"Where did you go after court. I was looking for you."

"I went for a drive just need some air after everything," I spoke honestly.

Her smile fell and I could feel her grow nervous, "Yeah that was a lot that just happened huh?"

"Yeah. Have you talked to Christian yet?," I asked knowing the sensitivity of the topic, "How'd he take it?"

She looked puzzled and curious herself, "I don't know…," she whispered, "I don't know. I haven't seen him all day when I woke up he was gone. Then I expected to see him in thrown room during the hearing and he wasn't there. So for sure I thought he would be here after her trial but nope. That's why I went looking for you." She paused and asked, "You don't think he heard what happened and is mad at me do you?"

"Are you crazy!", I yelled, "There's no way he's mad. He would never think like that." She jumped when I yelled so I scooted closer to her so I could give her a hug, "I just think he needs some space. I mean this is a lot for him to take in."

"I know you're right I'm just worried about him that's all."

She rested her head on my shoulder. I sighed. Then spoke again, "Just give him his space he'll back you and I both know that." I paused then finally spoke again, "If it'll make you feel better text him to see how he feels tell him you love him and your here for him that's the best you can do right now if he wants his space."

I reached in my pocket and handed her the snickers I bought for her. She giggled and to my surprise she opened it and started eating right there. Maybe that waitress was right chocolate does make you feel better. When she was finished she stood up walked across the room to throw her trash away no grab a water bottle. When her back was to me I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Dimitri:

Are you with Christian? Lissa hasn't seen him all day. She's worried and wants to talk to him.

She walked back over and sat down with a sigh. All of the sudden it was like a light bulb went off in her head and she jumped up garbed my hand and started to lead me out of the lounge.

"Liss what happened? Are you okay?"

"Yeah I just remembered I have to show you something," she said surprise lacing her words.

Before I knew it we were in her room and let me tell you if you thought the lounge was cool it's doesn't have anything on her bedroom. Her bedroom had to be the size of a 3 bedroom apartment she had a huge walk in closet a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi style bathtub and a walk in rainfall shower. Her room was a pale pink with gold accents, giant windows lined one side of her room complete with French doors and a balcony. I plopped down on her ginormous bed and laid out. She ran to the bathroom to grab something I guess. Probably some new make up or travel magazine she's been reading and she wants to show a new place that she thinks would a great honeymoon spot for her and Christian. I felt my phone buzz the screen lit up with a text from Dimitri:

Tell her don't worry he's safe. He just needed some space.

I replied:

Okay I'll let her know. Is he coming home?

Dimitri:

Yes he should be there shortly.

Me:

Okay I'll wait for him. So I don't leave Lissa alone.

Dimitri:

That's fine I'll see you at home Roza.

My heart always flutters a little when he calls me that. When I looked up from my phone Lissa was standing there in the doorway to her bathroom staring at me with a smile from ear to ear. Her hands were behind her back, so she must be showing me some new make up.

"Okay Lissa what's the big surprise?", I asked.

She took a few steps towards me and sat down next to me, "Rose don't freak out please because I'm already freaking out and if you start freaking then I won't be able to get through this."

She was rambling I could tell she was nervous and didn't know what to say. She took a deep breath and very slowly moved her hands from behind her back. In her hands she had 3 white sticks with caps on the ends of them, 2 of them had 2 lines and one of them had a plus sign.

I looked her with my mouth on the floor, "Are you trying to tell me what I think you're trying to tell me?", my mouth still on the floor.

"Yes!", she was laughing now, "Me and Christen are going to be parents."

"Holy shit! Liss!," I leaned and gave her a big hug, "I'm so happy for you guys!"

She was clearly shaking with excitement with tears in her eyes. "Thanks. But you can't tell Christian yet because he doesn't know yet."

Like any good tv drama the door suddenly flew open and there was Christian standing in the door way with a smirk on his face, "What haven we told Christian yet?"

Me and Lissa jumped, "Oh nothing just another honeymoon spot to look at." I looked at my wrist, "Oh look at the time I really should be going. Lissa you want to walk me out."

She was still surprised so I helped her up and led her across the room to the door to walk me out. Christian caught her by her waist and pulled into a much needed embrace. They looked like they weren't going to let go. They really need each other so I decided to leave but when I got out the door I popped my head back in the house and shouted.

"Good luck on convincing Christian to honeymoon at Disneyland!", I laughed.

So once again I was on that long walk back to guardian housing. Just me and my thoughts great just what I need. I got about half way home when I realized I left my sweet tarts in my car. So I sprinted across the yard back to Sapphire to grab my candy. I reached my car and grabbed my candy. Only then did I realize how out of breath I was which is strange because me and Dimitri run every morning. Well Dimitri runs every morning I'm more of an every other day kind of runner. So I decided to walk back. It was nearing noon at this point the end of the moroi night. When I walked in I heard the water running. Dimitri must be in the shower. So I set my gas station bag on the counter and walked into our bedroom. We lived in a one bedroom apartment. Our kitchen and living room shared the same space and down the short hall was our bedroom and bathroom we also had sliding door in our bedroom that had a small patio the led to our small backyard. I sighed and did a face plant on the bed. Today had been a long day and I'd didn't realize how tired I truly was. I wasn't physically tired but mentally and emotionally I was drained. I heard the water shut off so I stood up and walked over to our dresser and pulled out one of his shirts it had Sublime on it, some black boy shorts, and a pair of mismatched socks. The bathroom door opened and he stood there wrapped in only a towel with water dripping from his hair down his chest.

I fanned my self with the clothes in my hand, "Jeez I just walked in the door and this is what greets me? What did I do right today to deserve this."

He laughed and walked over to me placing a kiss on top of my head, "I could say the same about you."

The scent of soap and aftershave wrapping around me as did his arms. I laughed, "You're blind comrade."

"Only for you", he whispered hotly in my ear.

I reluctantly pulled away, "Okay I need a shower and if I keep standing here that won't happen."

He laughed and reached in the drawer and started to pull out clothes. I walked across the room to our bathroom as I closed the door I just heard him say he was gonna start dinner. I probably took a longer shower than I should of but I couldn't help it the water was just so warm and the water just seemed to wash all my worries away. When I finished I got dressed and stood in the bathroom washing face and brushing my hair. The bathroom door was still closed but I heard Dimitri walk in the room and before I knew it he swung the bathroom door open and was holding the pregnancy test in his hand.

"What's this he said?" He yelled I could tell he wasn't mad but he was concerned because this morning we both said it wasn't possible and now in me buying this test I'm confirming what he thinks.

I stood there eyes wide. I spoke sheepishly, "I just bought it to prove that I'm not I'm sorry I wasn't trying to get your hopes up."

His face fell, "Oh. I understand."

I reached out and held him for minute. I could tell he was said he really wanted this. I did too but it just wasn't going to happen. A thought came to mind and I pulled away to look at his face.

"I could take it now and we could see."

He looked at me his eyes filled with pain. "No Roza," his hands came up and cupped my face, "It's fine. I believe you."

He kissed my head set that damn box on the counter and walked away I heard him crawl in the bed and turn on the tv. With at dinner was promptly forgotten. I closed the bathroom and finished getting ready for bed, that tiny pink box starting at me the whole time. I reached for the door then stopped.

"Ugh. Just do it Rose you already know the results," I whispered to myself.

So reluctantly I sat down and peed on the stick. I washed my hands and ready the box it said I had to wait 8 minutes. I wasn't goin to wait I figured I could read the results in the morning. I set the test down on the counter and walked to bed. I normally cuddled close to Dimitri when I got in bed but tonight I stayed far to the other side of the bed. To me felt like he was disappointed and I felt that way too. I felt tears burning in my eyes and thought I was going to cry. At that same moment Dimitri rolled over hand held me kissing my head.

"I love you Roza.", he kissed my cheek this time, "Always."

"I love you too. Always.", I whispered.

We fell asleep like that holding each other and in that moment we needed each other. We love each other no questions asked. We've just been through so much pain together. Would one happy miracle be too much to ask for? Just one miracle.