Hey all! This is a really, really rough edit. I'll probably find all the mistakes tomorrow (you know, after I've got something that resembles sleep and have my glasses on.)

When I came down the stairs, I was greeted with visitors I wasn't expecting or wanting. A graying Moroi man was sitting on the couch, a briefcase on the floor next to his feet. Sheila was sitting on the other couch with a coffee cup. When she noticed me, she smiled at me as she sipped.

"Morning, sweetheart," she greeted.

I yawned and rubbed my face as I looked at the Moroi.

"Morning. Who is this?" I asked gesturing to the man. He stood up and smiled politely at me, extending his hand out to me.

"Brenan Lambert. I am the attorney for the late Princess Vasilisa Dragomir," he said as I shook his hand. I furrowed my brows as I looked at Sheila.

"You were her lawyer?"

"Yes," he said kindly, "and before you get weary, I am also a friend of your father."

I nodded and cleared my throat. "I need coffee before I do anything," I said and excused myself back to the kitchen. As I poured my coffee, I sent a message to Abe.

Do you know Brenan Lambert? Can he be trusted?

I stalled as I made my coffee, taking time to put everything back exactly where it was as I went. I took a sip as I walked back to the living room when my phone buzzed in the pocket of my sleep shorts.

He's an old friend. He's my lawyer. By the way, you need to get your Will and Powers of Attorney done. I'm back in the US. Dinner?

I nodded to myself and went to sit on the couch, setting my coffee down. I was about to ask Brenan if he would like one, but I noticed the third mug on the table.

"Well, my father trusts you. What are you here for?"

"I know that there is some…unrest in Court at the moment, but I need to address the late Princess' Will and Estate with you."

"Why me?"

"You are the Trustee," he said plainly. I couldn't stop my brows from shooting up.

"Pardon me?"

"The Princess named you as the Trustee of her Estate, and aside from some charities, you are the primary beneficiary," he said and I gapped.

"When did she do that?"

Brenan pulled cream-coloured paper out of his briefcase and flipped to the last page.

"A month after graduation from St. Vladimir's. She made an appointment to review her Will a few months ago, but decided not to make any changes."

I nodded and reached for my coffee again, glancing at Sheila. She had a sympathetic look on her face, and she reached over to rub my shoulder.

"What does this mean?"

Brenan smiled and folded his hands in his lap, Lissa's Will on the table.

"It means that once the assets are liquidated, taxes are paid, and funds donated, you have everything. The properties, her bank accounts, and investments. It can be overwhelming initially," he explained, and I leaned back against the couch.

"I have everything?"

"That's correct."

"And…there's no way for the Royals to fight it?"

"No. I have ample proof that the Princess was of sound mind and not under any undue pressure. If you'd like, I can read through the Will with you?"

I nodded and pulled my legs up and sipped my coffee as he read. It sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me, but as he went on, it dawned on me that I had no idea the extend of the Dragomir fortune. I knew they had money, and that Lissa wouldn't have to work a day of her life if she played her cards right, but this was too much.

"Wait. What happens to the property in Montana and the property here?"

"Everything is left to you. You can either keep them, or sell them. The Princess' Guardians knew that you were the Trustee, and any jewelry that was name specially is in the safe at my office," Brenan explained and I nodded, running my hand through my hair.

"What do I do?"

"The Princess was proactive. Again, her Guardians have provided me with the documents I require to start the process, and as things fall into place, you will be consulted. You look overwhelmed."

"I feel like I'm going to puke," I said truthfully as I ran my hand through my hair again.

"Do I need to do something right now?"

"No. But I couldn't start anything until I spoke with you," he explained and I nodded, heaving a large sigh. Brenan didn't stay long after that, and then I was left in a state of shock. Sheila stayed seated with me, running her fingers over the side of my head gently.

"I'm a millionaire," I said bluntly as I turned to look at her, "Not even after selling properties. I think I'm going to be sick."

Sheila laughed. "Oh, I remember that feeling. It goes away."

"What?"

"My grandfather had a large share in Apple and Xerox. Everyone told him not to invest in Xerox, but now it's covered the funding for this project, and the house. Michael has a college fund, and we have a nest egg. That feeling of 'oh my God, this is insane' goes away," she explained and I nodded my hair, taking in another deep breath.

I pursed my lips as I ran my finger against the glass. What I thought was dinner with me and Abe, turned into dinner with me, Abe, Janine, Dimitri, and Gabriel. Not that I minded; it gave me the guise to let my thoughts wander. The four of them would carry on conversation enough that a few 'mmhms' and 'uh huhs' would be satisfactory.

I still hadn't proceeded what Brenan had said. I didn't know how to feel. It was so surreal and I kept waiting for the Royal Guard to barge down the door and take me away for theft. They would view it that way, that I, a lowly Dhampir, was stealing from the other Royals by taking what was left to me.

I glanced upwards as I reached for my glass and spotted a man across the room. I felt my heart shudder in my chest for a moment as I looked at him. I always thought that Gabriel looked like his mother, but looking at this man, it was a greying version of him.

"I had hoped this day would never come," Savanah-Mae whispered behind me.

I took a sip and glanced towards her. I pointedly looked at her and then at Gabriel.

"That's him."

I swallowed and could see that he knew exactly who Gabriel was. I set my glass on the table and quietly excused myself, praying that Gabriel didn't look behind him as I left the table. I weaved around the tables before I got closer to him.

The man opened his mouth to speak, but I glared at him and gripped his forearm, almost dragging him outside the restaurant. We stopped just outside the door, far enough away that they wouldn't be able to see us through the window.

"What the hell?"

"I didn't expect to see him here," the man explained but I held up my hand.

"And that's all well and good, but don't you dare approach him," I snapped, "You abandoned him. Social services couldn't even find you when Savanah-Mae was murdered. He doesn't want or need you in his life."

The man cocked his head. "Savanah-Mae was murdered?"

"In front of him. Protecting him," I stated.

"I didn't know. When?"

"He was fourteen."

The man sighed. "I'm sorry."

I shrugged and he rummaged in his pocket for a second before pulling out a pen and an old receipt.

"I figure that you are some kind of girlfriend, or maybe even protective adoptive sister, or whatever, but if he ever wants to talk," he said as he wrote on the back of the receipt. I took it and looked down at it before stuffing it into my pocket, and turning on my heel.

"I didn't want to leave. I just didn't know how to be with and raise a child like him."

I scoffed. "You mean a fantastic person."

"No, I just mean…"

"A howler?" I asked without saying it outright.

He nodded his head. I sighed and walked back into the restaurant, heading back to the table with a forced smile.

"Sorry, that took me so long. Line up for the bathroom."

Dimitri raised a brow at me and glanced at the bathroom that was from the other side of the room, but didn't comment on my lie. I knew there was a large possibility that Gabriel would be able to tell I was lying, but I was going to at least try.

To protect him.

GPOV

I laid in bed with my arm bent behind my head. I had a pair of stress balls in my hands. The sound of the clicking was soothing and was something that I could zone into while reading. I took in a deep breath and licked my lips, readjusting my neck when I heard a creak outside the door. I tilted my head to the side as saw Rose shuffle by the door.

"Hey," I said softly. She didn't respond and went down the stairs. She was sleepwalking. I smirked to myself and went back to reading. After the last sleepwalking incident, Sheila, Martin and I had put in extra precautions around the house to make sure we didn't have the same scare.

I cleared my throat and rolled my balls in my hand again. I hadn't called out for her before and knew how dangerous it was to call out to the dead, but I figured that she was lingering nearby.

"Mom. If you're here…I'm glad to know that you watch over me. I miss you," I said quietly, setting my book down on the bed. I wasn't expecting a response, and I wasn't expecting any kind of sign that she wa there, but I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. One of the few possessions I had that belonged to my mother was a glass music box. It wasn't in a case like most were, this one being mirrored around the bottom. It was a glass hummingbird and a flower. I never played it anymore, not wanting to risk dropping it while picking it up to turn the dial.

But the crystal notes of Clare de Lune filled the room as I looked at it, turning and catching the light of the streetlamp. I forgot how mesmerizing it was to watch, the colours bouncing around the room.

That was all I needed for my mother to tell me that she was here.

I smiled to myself and set my book on the bed. I pushed myself up and walked towards my dresser, carefully lifting it up. As I did, a piece of paper fell out from the lining covering the bottom. I furrowed my brows and tiled the music box. I had never noticed a rip in the lining along the bottom before. I carefully set the music box down and picked up the piece of paper.

It was a receipt for a gem store in town. I looked at it before looking at the back of it. I didn't recognize the name or the handwriting.

Greyson Beauchamp. 555-675-9932.

I cocked my head and cleared my throat as I read it.

I turned back around and jumped, finding Rose in the doorway of my room.

"Why are you playing music?" she asked as she rubbed her eyes.

"I think my mother was the one playing the music," I admitted, "I told her that I missed her and then it started playing."

Rose nodded and squinted at me. "What's that?"

I shrugged. "Don't know. It fell out from inside the lining," I said as I extended it to her, "I think it's yours. It's for that shop you go to all the time."

Rose took it and looked at the handwriting on the back. I wish I had been exaggerating when I said she paled, but I watched the colour leave her face.

"What?"

"Nothing," she said, a clear lie.

"Petal?"

"Savannah-Mae?" she asked, turning and looking around the room before stepping into the hallway. Rose looked irritated as she searched for my mother, but if I knew my mother, she would avoid if she wanted to.

"Do not make me summon you!" Rose exclaimed, quietly because everyone was asleep, but it was all the same.

"What is it?"

Rose huffed and looked at me with a slight shake of her head.

"It's nothing."

"Did my mother put it where I would find it?"

Rose bit her lip and sighed. "Remember when we were at the restaurant the other night, and I left to go to the bathroom suddenly?"

I nodded.

"I wasn't going to the bathroom. I was talking to…someone."

"Okay? And why would my mother want me to know about it?"

Rose flinched as she glanced to the side, a quiet breath coming from her lips. Her tense shoulders slumped as she listened to whoever was talking to.

"Because he's your father," she whispered, "And apparently he really didn't know that your mom had died."

I nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. I had caught a glimpse of someone at the restaurant who looked familiar, but he was gone before I could truly get a good look at him.

"My father?"

Rose nodded and leaned against the dresser across from me.

"I took the number but chewed him out for abandoning you."

I nodded and felt a little shocked.

"Did he say why?"

Rose shrugged. "Not really. I mean, do you really want to know?"

"Yes," I said immediately as I looked at her, "You wanted to know the same about your parents, and you got your answers. Were you going to give me the number? Or were you going to hide it?"

Rose bit her lip and crossed her arms over her chest.

"No."

"No?" I asked with a slight scoff.

Rose shook her head and cleared her throat. "No. I didn't want to give him the opportunity to hurt you. And he did when he walked away as a child, and then again by not being there when your mother was killed."

"Rose, I know where you're coming from, but that wasn't your choice to make," I said. I tried to keep my irritation below the surface. I knew that she meant well, but it wasn't fair that she hid that from me.

"You wanted me to be okay with the fact that the man who couldn't man up and be a dad wanted to just waltz back into your life? Like he did nothing?"

"No, but I should have been told then and there. Your parents both abandoned you at the Academy. Our situations are no different," I stated firmly. Rose pursed her lips and nodded to herself.

"I'm sorry," she said, but I could tell that to a degree, she felt that she was right in her decision. And it made me angry.

"Are you? We made a promise a long time ago to never keep things from each other. I have not kept a single thing from you, and you were going to keep this from me?"

Rose heaved a sigh and licked her lips.

"I thought I was doing the right thing by protecting you."

"I get that, but again, we made a promise to not keep things from each other," I reiterated. Rose pressed her lips together and stood up straight.

"I guess sometimes we need to break promises to keep each other safe," she said before walking out of my room and into hers. I shook my head and laid back on my bed with a quiet groan.

I had hoped my run would help with my feeling of irritation, but it didn't do much to help. Maybe it was because the irritation was based from my mate, but I couldn't get it to go away. It had been a week since I found the phone number, and both Rose an di were in poor moods.

I felt slighted. She knew that I had unresolved issues with my biological father, with the way I grew up feeling abandoned. She had the chance to build a relationship with the parents', and the fact that she wasn't going to give me the same opportunity angered me.

And I knew that she was just trying to protect to me, but she went about it the wrong way.

"What's up with you lately?"

I turned as saw Jordan lurking behind me on the deck. Jordan was powerful, and there was something about him that always put me on edge. I couldn't exactly trust him. He was a weird dude.

"I'm fine," I said as I rolled my shoulders, leaning down to wipe the sand off my legs.

"You've been moody."

I rolled my eyes and picked up my things to go back inside. I wasn't in the mood to deal with Jordan today. As I walked past, he grabbed my elbow and made me stop.

I was able to jerk my arm back when I felt a wave of heat roll over me.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing bad," he said and let go of me. I narrowed my eyes at him and headed up the stairs, scowling as I went inside.

"You look as miserable as Rose does this morning," Dimitri said with a chuckle.

"I wouldn't feel this miserable if Rose hadn't kept things about my life from me," I snapped. I realized instantly that I took my anger out on the last person I should have and sighed, rubbing my forehead.

"I'm sorry."

Dimitri nodded as he leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee.

"To be far, I see both sides."

"Of course you do," I said almost bitterly. Dimitri grunted and stood up straight.

"What I mean is; I understand why Rose wanted to protect you, but I understand why you're angry with her. You guys are having a fight, almost like a married couple. Want to know the best way to work out tension when it comes to Rose?"

"What?" I asked tiredly. I was truly desperate to find a release of my tension.

"Kick her ass sparing. It works out both of your issues, and then you get to gloat a little after. And she can't be mad at that because she knows that physically, it would be a miracle if she beat you," he explained as he sipped his coffee.

"Does that actually work?" I drawled, pouring myself a cup of coffee.

"Well, back at the Academy, it landed me a few kisses that could have gotten us in a lot of trouble…so, yeah. Plus, we both back to being able to guess each other's moves before we make them, and it gets tiring after a while," I explained, clapping my shoulder before heading towards the stairs.

Rose reached the bottom of the stairs as he did. He leaned down and ran his nose against the side of hers softly before kissing her. Even with my anger and frustration, I felt marginally better seeing her face beam at his affection. It was fleeting, but it was something.

Rose blushed as she came into the kitchen, stuttering in her step when she saw me. She went to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup in silence. Sheila, Martin, Mickey and Emily came into the kitchen too, all of them too aware of the tension between Rose and I.

I leaned against the counter and sipped my coffee as I watched Rose. I knew that she could feel it and she shifted her weight as she drank her coffee. I looked behind her and saw Dimitri standing at the stairs. He rolled his eyes and jutted his chin in Rose's direction before going up the stairs, Buckley and Nacho hot on his heels.

"Sparring when your done?" I asked as I took another sip of my coffee. It was in a nonchalant tone, but even then it was a heavy question to everyone else.

"Oh, thank God. Yes," Rose grumbled into her coffee, almost chugging the hot liquid. I smirked behind my mug and could hear Dimitri's chuckle from the floor above.

Cheeky bastard. At least I could say that there was someone I could go to when I needed advise about my mate.