Great news? She was searching me and blocked the bond completely, what the hell could be that great? Does it involves her relationship with Christian? Like also pregnant, engaged or whatever?
"Okay? Shoot." I look at both of them. Dimitri who's sitting next to me turns also around to look at them.
"Abe found Tasha! Or rather Abe's men. We were going for a walk, saw your parents kissing. We quickly wanted to go back but than he got a call and mentioned her name so we were eavesdropping. Good right?" She grins at me, even Christian smirks at little.
"Wait! You saw my parents kissing? Eww.." I make a grimace. I really don't want to see that, gladly it was her and Christian.
"Rose, that's not important now! They got Tasha! You hear me? Call Abe and ask." My best friend snaps. Wow, she too must be really angry at Tasha. It's too surreal for me to process yet, they really got her? It's not only a dream anymore?! I didn't even realize I took Dimitri's hand until I feel a squeeze.
"I really hope you're not kidding? That's so surreal.. I can't even imagine what Abe's going to do.. "
"I know for sure he's not going to kiss her." Christian shrugs. How does he know? Did Lissa told him? Dimitri's sitting now uncomfortable next to me, as for me I'm not comfortable either with this topic and I probably will never be. I shoot a glance at my best friend and I try again to reach into her mind, her emotions are running wild. A bit of everything, shock, surprised and glad, are some of the most outstanding right now. When she's so shocked and surprised I guess it wasn't her who told Christian. "Rose, relax, it wasn't Lissa.. It was my aunt, she bragged about the kiss when she wrote me 2 weeks ago. It was annoying."
"Very funny. I'm gonna call him soon. But yeah, that's great news. Thanks" I force a smile. I feel relieved they finally got her and in one way I don't care what will happen to Tasha now but I can't be really happy yet because she is or was Dimitri's friend, ergo he cares a bit about her, he can deny it as often as he wants but you won't stop caring about a friend in a short period of time. The same goes for Christian, she's his aunt. I feel pretty bad he's losing his only constant family he had during these years all because of me.
"Rose? What about hanging out together later? The one particular spot." Lissa asks and raises a brow at the suggestion where to. The one I told her about Dimitri and she told me about the possibility to have kids. Instead of a reply I just nod. I'm wondering if she and I will really spend time without the guys.
Dimitri's her Guardian so technically he does need to be with her, as I look around I spot her other Guardian in a corner not far away. I rather much prefer Dimitri hearing the conversations later then a stranger. If I wouldn't be pregnant, I would be her Guardian now. Damn it Comrade.
I still haven't called my father yet, I figure he needs time for his plans when he got there and maybe he wouldn't even tell me anything until everything's really set and right now I'm sitting on the exact same spot like when I told Lissa about Dimitri and me. With him in a corner far away enough.
"Hey, you're not happy about the fact she got caught? You should be smiling like an idiot." My best friend exclaims.
"I'm glad, but not overjoyed.. I'm in a shit position. My boyfriend is or was a friend of her, cared for her as a friend does. And another friend of mine is her nephew. I can't feel overjoyed because I know already how my dad is and he won't let her off the hook, it's gonna be cruel. Tasha will probably disappear suddenly from tomorrow on, forever. Because of me Lissa." I sigh and let my shoulders drop while looking at the small lightly frozen sea. "You didn't heard me saying Christian's my friend, yes?"
"I understand. Rose it's not because of you, she chose to harm you so she could get the guy, it was her decision. You never did anything wrong to her. Christian knows it and I guess Dimitri knows it too." She comforts me. "Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about." Lissa chuckle.
"Remember when you told me about the possibility to have kids with Dhampir? Can you believe it's actually happening?" I caress my huge bump, only 7 weeks left. Trying to change the subject.
"If I remember correctly you were already pregnant back then. And I still got no details."
"You scared the shit out of me, I even slipped! Yup.. Wasn't really a pleasant information at first. And Dimitri didn't talked to me for weeks.." I laughed bitter at the thought of everything. "Why do you want details so bad? Don't you have a sex life of your own?"
"I don't exactly want the kind of details you think. Like how did it happened? Before the attack there was the incident with Jesse and you were there, rather when? When was there time to be intimate?"
"Remember when Dimitri pulled me back? He led me to the cabin, far away from the clinic because I wanted to kill Jesse, side effect of the darkness. Well, Dimitri tried to get the darkness out, and he succeeded. That kind of leaded to kissing each other and get naked." I answer truthfully, before lowering my voice and continuing "And like I said last time, I came three times. I never thought that would be possible. How is up to your imagination. Although I prefer if you don't imagine me and him having sex."
"Don't worry, I won't imagine you two having sex, that's sort of disgusting." She replies also in a lower voice, which I'm really glad. In situations like that I can imagine how it must be like for Moroi sometimes, having a Guardian standing there every time. Even in a secured school. We've been trained to be like invisible for them, but still we hear a lot even if we try not to. Dimitri who's standing over there doesn't need to hear it. "One question, do you already have a name for your mini me?"
"Oh fuck! A name.. Such an important thing and I never once thought about it.. Fuck. Only 7 weeks left. I'll never come up with a name in time." I completely start to panic only because I never thought of giving her a name. I'll be a bad mom. I know it. Lissa is silent throughout my little panic attack, "I still can't do that." pointing at my belly "I'm too young Lissa..I'm only 18."
"Rose, listen to me. 7 weeks is enough for you and Dimitri to come up with a name, and it's okay you never thought about that. You had a lot of other things on your mind and you worked a lot." She looks at me with a comforting gaze before she continues "You can. And you'll be a great mother. It doesn't matter if you're only 18. Oh, the hell with it, you'll be the best mom and I'll be the best aunt."
"Thanks.. " I smile lightly. But is it really enough? Some children are coming earlier, and some are late. "Is it really enough? There are so many names, I never thought of names. How can I make sure I chose the right one? And her last name? What is it going to be? Both or only his? You want an advice? Don't ever open your legs again. Men.. they make our lives much more complicated."
"From what I know, a lot of expecting parents write down a few, and as soon as they're holding their baby they instantly know how to name the child. Or they search for the one perfect name while it's still safe in the mother's belly. Named after Family members, good friends.. All in one, after beloved ones. I think deep down you already know a perfect name but you're afraid Dimitri won't like it, right?"
"I can't name my girl Mason." I sigh and look at the lake as it would have all the answers.
"No Roza, but there's maybe a feminine form of the name. I've been thinking about it since you told me about him being her Guardian Angel." I hear Dimitri saying.
"There is?" I ask curiously "Why are you coming over?"
"Didn't you see Lissa waved me over? And it's not like I don't hear you from there." my Russian God is looking at me, his Guardian mask gone. "And yes there is. I think you'll love it."
"Okay..Tell me. I'm curious now." I smile at him. "I would tell Lissa anyway."
"What about Masie? Derived for old Greek language and it means Pearl." Dimitri's looking at me with mixed emotions. Maybe fear I might not like it, curiosity, and such a lovely sparkle like always when it comes to the baby.
"It's perfect!" Lissa and I exclaim in unison.
"See Rose? 10 minutes was enough for you both. Now only the last name. That won't be to hard. Both sounds good. Masie Hathaway, Masie Belikov or Masie Hathaway Belikov." She's right, it does sound good but since it's a girl it'll be Belikova, like all the woman in Dimitri's family and that sounds even better I think. I smile to myself because I know in that moment I made up my mind. My child doesn't need two last names because I know exactly that one day I'll be a Belikova too, so we're all gonna be carrying the same last name.
"That's gonna be a secret, for the both of you."
3 WEEKS LATER
I always love watching Dimitri fighting, so it's only normal that I also watch him fighting in the novices Field Experience. I take my place behind a plant to not disturb them, and giving them enough space. Dimitri jumps out of a dark spot where he was hiding for a minute until a female novice, the one with long black hair and not so a tanned skin like I have. I never asked her for her name, but I should probably do, coming across with her charge.
She manages to get her charge to the side and jumps in. A Moroi boy in her age, from what I hear, he's a second Jesse Zeklos, he has brown-black short hair always messy when I see him around and blue eyes.
I would so love to jump right in, push the novice back and spar with my equal. But unfortunately I can't, I'm carrying his baby.
The female Dhampir lands a few hard punches, but nothing he can't handle, soon Dimitri fights back, making his moves, seeing him there is like a Deja-vu to our sparring, exactly 36 weeks ago. I must admit she's pretty good, but Dimitri's definitely better. I watch them a little longer, although in fact I'm mostly watching my Russian.
Suddenly I sense someone by my side saying furiously
„What an ass!" I look at her, it's the novice from the fight and she's pissed. Well, at least she's not talking about his ass. If she would have been, I would have been pissed. A lot. Because don't piss off a hormones driven woman.
I let my gaze wander over Dimitri and my eyes resting on his ass for a second.
„I agree." Holding back a grin.
„Did he pinned you down too?" She asks curiously, still not looking at me, her eyes resting on her Moroi. „How can anyone win against Guardian Belikov? He should hold back."
„Several times." I say and think dirty minded of it. „Yep, he's a hard one. I won against him back than."
Now she's looking at me, noticed my huge bump and clears her throat as if she would be nervous.
„Guardian Hathaway.. I'm sorry.." She clearly didn't realized it's a Guardian beside her. „Congratulations on your engagement"
I spin around facing her, turning back to Dimitri, and again to her with a puzzled look on my face.
„What engagement? With whom?" I must have been a little too loud, Dimitri coming to us with concerned look on his face. The hell, I don't want to get married now. Not happening. Now I remember why I hated High school. I knew People kept staring at me, once it calmed down it started again. That's probably why. They think I'm engaged to Dimitri. And my mother's pissed off, now I know the reason..
„Comrade, no need to worry, we girls are gossiping" I try to comfort him. He should put back on his Guardian mask. „I'll see you later."
And then I need to ask what it is about these rumors. If he knows about them or not? Fuck School.
After quite some time now I meet with my mom in the Guardian lounge. I don't walk normal anymore, I waddle like a Penguin. A cute, handsome Penguin and in my opinion also fat. It's hard to put on my shoes or sock or any other clothing for that matter. I just want to pull her out.
"Hey Mom." I say after letting myself fall on the soft couch. "Before you say anything, I'm not engaged to Dimitri, nor am I planning to marry him in the next years. These are stupid gossips."
"Okay good." She's looking at me with concern in her eyes. "Rose, what is it? You don't look so good."
"These damn Braxton hicks contractions are killing me today. Nothing's helping."
"Are you sure it's Braxton Hicks and not like you're in labor if it's that bad? What about your water, did it broke yet? How does the pain feel like?"
"I can't be in labor, it's too early, there are still 4 weeks left! She needs to stay in there." pointing to my belly and sounding panicky, I don't know who I want to convince because deep down I know babies don't always come exactly after 40 weeks. 4 entire weeks earlier, I wanted those 4 weeks to prepare myself mentally. I don't even have a bag packed yet. I always told myself 'My girl's having my timing, I've still got time.' Damn it. Did my water broke? I don't know.. maybe when I took a long hot shower. "Can you make it stop please? Mom.. please.." I groan.
"You're in labor Rose. You'll be a mom by tomorrow." She makes a few calls while I try to reach Dimitri, but each time it goes to voicemail. I can't do this on my own, I need him with me.
"Oh fuck." I say to myself as her words finally sink in. This pretty much covers the situation I'm in right now. Apparently I'm in labor. It hurts like hell, I can't reach my boyfriend and by tomorrow I'll hold my baby in my arms, be a mom with no experience at all. I don't even know how to change a diaper.
"Mom, I'll walk through the school and I'll search for Dimitri before going to the clinic." I practically yelled in pain. "I prefer a Strigoi attack! You hear me?"
"Calm down. You are worse than I was. And no you're not walking around now. Dr. Olendzki is on her way with a wheelchair." She said looking calm as if nothing happened. And again with her phone on her ears, but this time I concentrate myself to hear what she's saying. Yes I know I probably shouldn't do that, but I'm curious. I only hear shreds of of the call, but it's clear she's on the phone with my dad. 'Abe...labor...yeah, now... here'.
'So much for 40 weeks.' I quickly write Lissa a text. 'Aunt Lissa and Uncle Sparky. Sounds good right? Argh this hurts.. can't you heal me?'
'Oh my God! YAY! I can't Rose, sorry.. Ask for these extra painkillers when you're in labor. Epidural I think.' I get her answer right away. While my mom is still on the phone and not looking at me, guess she's trusting me I won't wander away but I'm going to disappoint her, I need to find Dimitri, even if it costs me all my strength and willpower. I steal myself away as quickly and quietly possible. Again I reach his voicemail. Pick up your fucking phone, I groan.. My doctor once told me I should count the minutes between each contraction but I'm too distracted in waddling around and sometimes stopping when another wave hits me and grit my teeth, leaning against something and trying not to make a sound.
Finally I see Stan hiding behind a plant, but no novices. Again another contraction and he jumps out.
"Are you completely insane Rose? What are you doing here? You should be in the infirmary, shouldn't you?"
"I'm doing just fine. Did you see Dimitri?" I reply with a stern voice
"I see." He says sarcastically before continuing "I saw him a few minutes ago. I think he's in the west wing now."
"Okay, thanks. it's not that far." I know I'm being ridiculous but I just can't do it without him, besides he is the father and if he has the possibility to be there, he should be.
"Were you always that crazy? We're in the south wing. You're waiting for the doctor while I search for Dimitri, deal? Call Dr. Olendzki. Now!"
"Yeah.. By the way, why are you suddenly so friendly?" I shouldn't ask so many questions, but I'm just so curious. He was never so nice to me in the past, maybe only when I got my 2 Molnija.
"You know exactly why. You heard the talk I had with Alberta, right? Now call the doctor." I can only nod, as I dial her number. "You're holding yourself good for a woman in labor."
"For Fuck's Sake, search Dimitri!" I groan loudly as another wave of pain hits me. I'll fucking kill Dimitri or me. Or both of us.
"I take it back." he answers as he runs to the west wing. This counting is easy now, I last called Dimitri 7 minutes ago, right before I saw Stan and the next was when he shouted back.. it's 7 minutes apart already. I do as he says and call the doctor. When I came back to the Academy with Lissa, and payed a visit to the infirmary the first time I was there so often, broken ankle, after Natalie's fight, after a certain flight.. I never have guessed Dr. Olendzki would someday deliver my baby.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
What do you think of the name? At first I wanted two first names, but I decided against it when I wrote the chapter.
And finally, Rose is in Labor!
So, for the next chapter I'll try my best, but since I don't have children, I gathered a few informations from friends and my mom how it was for them. For a fact, I know someone who didn't realized her water has broken because she took a shower.