Rose Point of View:

"You really mean it Dimitri? If someone could make it work, it's us. But one condition.. Stop kissing Tasha." I still don't know how this should work at the Academy, raising a baby here, where would we live? And the main question, is it really safe? My whole life I thought St. Vladimir's Academy is one of the safest place, until the attack that is. Now I'm not so sure anymore.

"Yes. Roza, you have the privilege to decide where you want to work. I don't, I need to follow my charge. That's our duty. They come first."

I take a deep breath before speaking. Lying on the little bed in the cabin and watching the ceiling. "Let's speak when you're here, Comrade." So many memories are floating through my mind, good ones mostly.

Out of nowhere I feel like my muscles are tightening across my belly. My doctor told me how contractions feel like, this is it. I'm going to labor and Dimitri isn't even here. Quickly putting my hands on my womb, lightly rubbing and hoping to ease the pain. This hurts, I can deal with pain, but I never felt this kind of pain in my life before. Not yet please.. Not yet please.. It's too early. I'm saying to myself as a mantra or maybe to the baby?

"Fuck.." I moan in pain. "Dimitri."

"Roza? What is it?" He asks with pure concern in his voice, I can clearly see him before me, with the emotions all written over his beautiful face even though he's miles away.

"Am I a doctor?" I sigh annoyed, not because of him but because of this odd kind of pain. I want this to be over, now. There are 7 weeks left until the calculated date of birth. Still gently caressing my huge baby bump. 'Baby Girl, stay in there please..at least until daddy's coming.' I whisper.

"Rose, where are you now? Go to the clinic, ask Dr. Olendzki.. or call someone if you can't. Please for once do as I say."

"Cabin." I grin to myself. I bet Dimitri can clearly imagine the look on my face right now. "It's better now. You're probably right.. I'll keep you updated okay?"

"And you wish I would be there now?" he asks curiously "Yes, please do that."

"Yep. So I could torture you. Payback Baby." I reply with a smirk on my face, sadly he can't see me. "I'll hang up now Comrade. Please don't worry too much about me, I'm fine. I love you."

"I'll try Roza. Take care, I love you too."

A 5 minute walk takes me 15 minutes now to reach the infirmary because of the constant pain, I should have visited a pregnancy preparation course like a Moroi at Court suggested me, or read the book Lissa once send me. The first question in this book was already too much for my nerves.

'How do you want to deliver your baby?' If possible with FedEx, UPS or DPD, etc.. I really don't care, I just want the baby to be out when it's her time and healthy.

"Rose, I heard you're back. Wow, you're glowing. So what can I do for you?"

"Hi Dr. Olendzki, I'm what? I'm having these strange kind of pain in my belly, like contractions, but it's too early. As if my belly is tightening. I'm not in labor yet, right?" Why does everybody keep saying I'm glowing? Some Moroi and Dhampir at Court, Dr. Olendzki too now. What does that even mean?

"Alright, come with me." She says with a comforting tone in her voice, though I know this examination will be uncomfortable for both of us. She's leading me to one of the rooms, closing the door and clears her throat before continue speaking "Unfortunately we don't have ob/gyn's here, from what you told me, it doesn't look like you're in labor but I could be wrong. To be completely sure, I need to examine your cervix Rose, only checking if your cervix is already open. And also a Sonogram."

"Yikes, embarrassing." I blush a little bit while preparing for the examination "Let's get over with it." There weren't any really embarrassing moments in my life until now I realize. When I was back with Lissa, I was often here, she was my doctor but these were only injuries. We're totally reaching a new level in a doctor - patient relationship.

"We're finished." I didn't even noticed that she started, guess that's because I was in thoughts and had my eyes closed. "No need to worry Rose, those are Braxton Hicks Contractions. From what I know of my studies back then, there are several tips. Drink Water, take a walk, take a nap or rest for a while if you've been active, Take a warm bath." she smiles comforting before keep on speaking "And here are your sonograms."

"Okay, good to hear." Even though I don't know what Braxton Hicks is. Doctor Google is waiting. "Thank you." I say nicely. She leaves the room and I start dressing myself. I really should go back to court as soon as possible, I don't want Dr. Olendzki as my so called ob/Gyn when it comes to labor. Only 7 weeks left until I'm going to be a mom. Oh god. Speaking of mom, still need to call my mother about the field experience. As I'm on my way back to my dorm I dial her number.

"Guardian Hathaway speaking?" with a stern voice, oh please she knows exactly it's her daughter on the line.

"The other Guardian Hathaway speaking here." I say chuckling.

"Rose, how are you both doing? She's already there?"

"Nop, still in the oven. I call because of Guardian business." I unlock the door and near my bed I see a big present with the writing 'To my daughter, from Old man', for a moment I'm scared of even opening it, he could blow up the whole Academy, I mean it's Zmey.

"What is it?"

"Are you interested to pep up the field experience here at the Academy? Students are bored. Dimitri's coming too."

"You're back at St. Vladimir's? Since when and why? He should do his duty by protecting the princess." My mother answers in her usual tone. Yep, still pissed off even if she doesn't show it to him. Just great.

"Are you coming or not, it's starting in a week. I need to inform Alberta." Right now I'm furious, he is doing his duty, yes he isn't or wasn't the hardcore Guardian, like my mom, never taking a day off. But he is protecting my best friend. He visited me on his day off, we spent most of the day in bed or taking walks, talking about random stuff, jogging and having dinner together. It was just us. Since the incident with Tasha and me being at St. Vladimir's he turned into a hardcore Guardian like my mother. Working 7 days a week.

"It's Guardian Petrov, you'll never learn the titles! I guess I can make it work. Got to go. Take care Rose. Bye." That's her end of conversation. Two steps forward, one step back. Dimitri told me about the talk they had in the hospital, I really thought we made a progress, especially them. Now I know I was wrong.

Time to open the present, if the Academy blows up, not my fault. But hey, a stunt I never made and would be cool to see.

"Old man, got the present, Will it blow up by opening?" I write him

"Depends." Is his reply to my first message. What is that suppose to mean?

"Oh my god, you didn't? How the hell.."

"Kid, if I want to blow up something, I'm going to do it myself."

"Good, did I ever tell you you're insane?"

"Thank you. That makes two of us."

I finally open it and overwhelmed by everything. And again some kind of irony behind the gifts. There's a Belle from Beauty and the Beast stuffed bear and the matching prince for Belle. How did he got those? And what's the meaning behind? Is it because she was younger than the Beast when she fell in love, or because at the end when the Beast turns into the prince, he has shoulder length hair like Dimitri? Abe clearly picked a good one. At least 4 matching points already. I take out the next, this one is wrapped in a pink with grey stars wrapping paper, I tear open the gift in excitement, what could it be? Another Joke? The first thing that catches my eyes is a note sticking on another box but not Abe's handwriting, who could it be?

'Dear Rose,

We heard so much about you from Dimitri, as if you're already part of our family. We can't wait to finally meet you in person. Until then, here's something from our part. This present will show you, you're already a part of us. Ask Dimitri.

Belikova'

This small letter got me tears in my eyes, it's been long since I cried out of happiness, if ever... Dimitri's family never saw me in person but they already see me as a family member? Once again I'm blown away how Abe handled everything, after I wipe the tears away who escaped my eyes, I finally open the gift with such a gentleness, I don't know what it is and I certainly don't want to break this.

The present from his family is a stuffed elephant with music box, he really looks used and old, still fluffy and wearing a blue overall. But that makes him special and beautiful. I gently pull on the string and the room is suddenly filled with a magical melody, placing my hand on my belly. You hear that Baby girl? It's from Daddy's family, only for you. Amazing, isn't it?

I can't believe I'm holding one of Dimitri's toys. The Badass Russian battle god's stuffed animal when he was little. I wonder if he named him, most children name their stuffed animals I think? I'm putting this little fluffy in bed, he can comfort me until my boyfriend arrives in a week. The other two teddies I put in my little closet. The precious note finds a place on the bedside table.

With everything what was going on, I totally forgot to tell my sexy Russian what the doctor said. A text is easier because I don't know if he has the time to talk right now. But now I totally forgot the name of these funny contractions, I only remember Hicks. I think it was something with B?

"No need to worry Comrade. B Hicks Contractions. Dr. Olendzki and I reached a new level in our relationship."

As soon as these strange contractions are starting again, I decide to go for a walk like the doctor said, maybe it really helps. And I love jogging, running, taking a long walk. Just doing something, not being lazy. Outside I start a my normal walking speed, after few minutes it gets annoying and I speed up a bit. She was right, walking really does help to ease the pain, even though I think I'm too fast for my condition right now.

"You know I can't stop worrying, Roza. Please don't overstrain yourself." he answers me, I can imagine seeing his concern on his face, how he must have looked when he got the text. Maybe he also smirked a little, I'll never know.

An hour later I find myself sitting in Guardian Petrov's office, before considering on taking the job, I should really discuss everything first.

"Headmistress Kirova is okay with you taking the job Rose."

"There are a few problems, I realized. First of all, I'm gonna be a mother, she is my priority. She comes first. Sorry. Second, how should I manage to raise a newborn in a school, with no day care, and be a Guardian at the same time? Who will watch the baby when I work? Also, raising her in a small dorm, no place for a nursery. How should this work out?"

"I worked this all out with the Headmistress. I don't know why but she wants you here. At first you're only going to work 2 or 3 days a week, no patrol, or your choice. She volunteered to watch her, she got all soft when I got to that point. You'll move to a bigger dorm, double size bed and enough space for a crib and a changing table." Alberta replies, I let everything sink and in this moment I know she's serious about me working here, even Kirova. Kirova as a nanny for my child.. I would give almost everything to see her all soft.

"The crib and changing table are already in the dorm. And a few of the other baby things. Your other maternity clothes too, your normal ones not yet of course, you don't fit in there anyways." I suddenly turn around by the voice of my father. It's nice to see him, I must admit. As usual he's wearing a very expensive suit, or at least it looks expensive to me, black with small strips and the known colorful scarf, this time it's green. He wouldn't be Abe Mazur without a scarf and a suit.

"Old man, what are you doing here?" I laughingly ask.

"Doing my duties as a good father?" He raises an eyebrow.

Author's Note:

Now with my fan fiction, I don't have children, but I asked my best friend about how these Braxton Hicks Contractions were. And what her doctor did and said to ease the pain. For her, the first time she had those, they felt like real contractions. So, it kind of was 'real experience'.. But to be honest I also did a research, not only based on her.

Most of my friends or family members always took a long bath, but for me Rose seems to be the 'walking' type to ease the pain.

Have a nice day :-)