As Klaus and Rose strolled back into the compound, Kol was the first to notice their return. He jolted up from his seat, shouting, "They're back!"

The rest of the group immediately sprang into action, looking as if they hadn't slept in days. Worry and relief mingled on their faces. Some had feared it was a trap, a ploy by the Court to lure them into a secluded spot, away from prying eyes, in an attempt to capture Rose.

However, their apprehension gave way to relief as Rose and Klaus appeared unharmed. Though she understood their concerns, Rose couldn't help but feel grateful for the support and vigilance of her new family. They had become her shield against the dangers that seemed to follow her.

Klaus had reassured her on the way back, downplaying the significance of meeting her father. "Fathers are overrated," he had said. But he knew how important this meeting was to her, and his presence had given her the strength to face it.

Haley, on the other hand, was a bundle of mixed emotions. She was relieved to see Rose and Klaus safe, but she wasn't too keen on the idea of dealing with a cranky toddler. Hope had been quite a handful recently, especially regarding bedtime.

"I swear to god, Kol, if you wake up Hope after it took me an hour to put her down, I will lock you in a coffin and leave you there," Haley screeched, half-joking but very serious. She was probably more sleep-deprived than anyone.

Trying to lighten the mood, Rebecca said, "Don't worry, Haley. We'll make sure the little one gets her beauty sleep."

Looking somewhat chastised but still grinning, Kol replied, "Alright, alright, no need to get your fangs out. I'll behave."

With the situation diffused, the attention turned to Rose and Klaus. They were the ones who had ventured into the unknown, and everyone was eager to hear what had transpired at the church.

Rebecca, always the inquisitive one, started the questioning. "So, what happened? Did you find what you were looking for?"

Klaus exchanged a glance with Rose, silently communicating that she should do the talking. Taking a deep breath, she began recounting the events at the church in detail, with occasional snarky remarks that she couldn't resist.

"Met my dad. He was not a royal like I expected, but he seemed to travel with a lot of guardians at his disposal. He said his name Was Abe Mazer or something.," Rose stated matter-of-factly.

Elijah, the epitome of grace and composure, burst into laughter. It was such an unusual sight that everyone stared in amazement.

"Oh, this makes so much sense," he finally managed to say, a broad grin on his face. "Why didn't I see this sooner? Of course, you're Abe Mazer's daughter. A Russian mob boss's daughter. Now that I think about it, you two are so alike."

"He's a Russian mob. WHAT?!" Rose exclaimed, her disbelief ringing through the courtyard. She couldn't fathom it. This revelation was too much to digest. Her mother would never be involved with someone like that.

"This can't be true. You must be mistaken for someone else. There is no way he is my father," she insisted.

Elijah's laughter filled the courtyard, a rare and unusual sound from the usually composed vampire. "You have nothing to worry about, Rose. People don't mess with Abe Mazer for a reason. And now that you're his daughter, you have a unique kind of protection."

Rose mulled over the information, a whirlwind of emotions crashing within her. As she sank onto a nearby chair, she couldn't help but snark internally, her way of coping with the unexpected.

Great, just what I needed in my life - a mob boss for a dad. Why not go all out and add some crime drama music to this mess?

Elijah, still smiling, concluded the conversation on a heartwarming note. "You're safe here, Rose. We're family and always look out for each other."

With the conversation winding down, Rose couldn't remain in the courtyard any longer. The weight of her newfound revelation and the exhaustion from her recent adventures pressed upon her. She left the gathering, heading straight to bed, needing solace in sleep.

As Rose fell onto her pillow, exhaustion tucking her in, she entered into a fitful slumber. Through the layers of darkness in her dreamless sleep, she was jolted into a different place.—the dreamworld of Adrian Ivashkov.

Typically, she welcomed these visits, finding solace in Adrian's presence, but tonight, all she craved was a dreamless sleep.

"Hello, Little Dhampir," Adrian greeted her.

"Adrian, is there a reason why you interrupted my dreams? Because if there isn't, I will somehow find a way to make this punch hurt you in here," Rose grumbled, her pregnancy-induced irritability evident.

"Dimitri is on his way to New Orleans," Adrian revealed.

Rose froze, a shiver coursing down her spine. She was getting dizzy, the gravity of the situation hitting her like a ton of bricks. She couldn't even process what was happening.

Her mind raced with a flurry of questions. How? Why? What? She could hardly process anything at this moment.

"He what?" Rose mumbled, her voice sounding quiet and meek. She wasn't even sure what she was talking about.

"According to what I know, some old Moroi and his guardians spotted you when you were out the other night. It was reported instantly. He is on his way. You need to leave before he finds you," Adrian explained, his tone somber and concerned.

That was the last thing Rose heard before she was shaken out of her sleep, the words echoing in her mind.

As Klaus passed her room to check on her before going to sleep, he noticed her distress and gently whispered her name in an attempt to bring her back to reality as she was mumbling in her sleep.

Adrian's presence had been a comfort in her dream, a familiar friend in uncertain times.

Now, she faced a harsh reality. Dimitri, the man she both loved and feared, was drawing closer.

Panic surged through her veins. Memories of Dimitri's voice whispered in her thoughts, "Roza," with his thick Russian accent. "If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of the princess. I would throw myself in front of you." And the haunting phrase, "They come first." These memories only fueled her anxiety.

She couldn't bear the thought of leaving Klaus and the others. Her heart was already tangled in a web of emotions, trying to decipher what was happening between them. She was torn between her loyalty to her newfound family and the looming specter of Dimitri and the people she once trusted on their way to break her apart.

Rose's eyes snapped open, and she sat up her heart racing. She had to tell Klaus. She had to tell everyone. Dimitri was coming, and she didn't know how to face him again.

I AM SO SORRY I HAVE NOT UPDATED A BIT. I STARTED SCHOOL AGAIN, AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE MY SCHEDULE TO ADD WRITING THIS IN. I JUST HARD, BUT HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL BECOME MORE REGALR THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS. WE ARE GETTING TO THE GOOD PART. I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU ALL TO SEE WHAT IS NEXT