I sat like a statue in the chair, my eyes glued to the monitor as it moved in its monotonous rhythm. I knew that this wasn't my fault, but I couldn't help but feel guilty. I should have made sure that her security was tighter, I should have made sure that everyone was screened before coming to the event.

I wasn't leaving this chair until she opened her eyes and she was walking out of this hospital room. Well, rolled, nobody was going to let her walk anywhere.

The door to Lissa's hospital room opened and I looked away long enough to see Guardian Lewis regard me. He was a stoic Guardian, but now I could see everything clearly on his face. He wasn't trying to hide from me the guilt he felt too.

"Boss," he started but I raised a hand and shook my head.

"Don't," I said quietly, "Nobody expected this. I never would have expected this."

"But it was my responsibility to keep her safe in your absence," he defended but I shook my head and looked back at Lissa, hating that the tips of her platinum hair were tinged pink from her blood.

"It was as much my fault as yours. I planned the security for the gala, I should have made better preparations for it," I said and I shifted in the chair with a grunt. I wasn't comfortable at all, but I needed to be here. Guardian Lewis stepped forward and stood so that he was partly in front of me, holding my arms as I climbed off the chair and got into a better position.

"You can't blame yourself. You left the final details to me, I'm your second, I should be able to take over for you efficiently," Lewis said again. I sighed and looked up at him and frowned.

"Nobody would have expected the Queen's aid to draw a gun on her," I said quietly, "This isn't anyone's fault. I just feel horrible I wasn't there."

"If you were there, you would have been directly beside her and would have jumped in front of her. Two lives might have been lost then. Emily missed, thankfully," Guardian Lewis said quietly. I nodded and tucked my leg up onto the seat and rubbed my face. I was so tired.

I shivered and rubbed my arms. You would think that the Queen's suite at the hospital would be warmer, but it might have been me. I was freezing too. But it was the middle of December and it was uncharacteristically cold tonight.

Lewis picked up the extra blanket that was folded on the shelf and wrapped around my shoulders.

"Despite this, how are you feeling? I know that you weren't thrilled about being put on maternity leave early," Lewis asked.

I shrugged. "I'm okay. Tired, all the time. I sleep all the time. And being comfortable just doesn't happen anymore. The only time I'm comfortable is in the bath, and even then, I have a hard time getting in and out," I explained as I rubbed my protruding stomach.

"When is your due date?"

I bit my lip. "Three days ago?"

Guardian Lewis chuckled. "Taking after their mother already."

I rolled my eyes and rubbed the bottom of my stomach. A nurse came in and checked Lissa over, changing the IV bag and excused herself quietly. I gestured for Lewis to sit down. No point in making him stand.

"Where is Emily?"

"Detained in the cells. Croft is dealing with it. He wanted me to stay here at the hospital. When the nurse told me that you were in here, I figured you could use the company."

I nodded and looked away from Lissa again when the door opened, finding my frazzled husband there.

"Roza! Have you been here all this time?!"

I nodded. "I've been here since they brought her out of recovery," I said quietly. Dimitri sighed and shook his head, coming into the room. To be honest the look of annoyance on his face was a little entertaining.

"Your water broke six hours ago! You can't take off like that," Dimitri said exasperatedly.

Guardian Lewis' head snapped towards me. "You're in labour!?"

"This baby is not coming out until Lissa wakes up and I can tell her that her niece or nephew is coming," I said plainly, leaning back in the chair when the baby started kicking against my ribs.

"How far apart are your contractions?" Dimitri asked with his hands on his hips.

I shrugged. "I don't know. It got easy to tune them out an hour or so ago."

I wasn't exaggerating. I got used to blocking out the round ligament pain and pain from training. It was a little bit of mind over matter and part stubbornness.

"Rose."

"Maybe ten minutes apart?"

"And you went into labour six hours ago?"

"Twelve. My contractions started last night," I said quietly and winced. Okay, so I couldn't ignore it all the time. Especially the ones in my abdomen and butt at the same time. Guardian Lewis rolled his eyes and excused himself out to the hall.

Dimitri sighed and walked closer and sat down in Lewis' vacant chair, stroking my cheek with his knuckles.

"Rose, you need to go get checked in," he said quietly, "I know that you planned on me and Lissa being there for the delivery, but you're only going to hurt yourself and the baby by trying to keep the baby in. You have to take care of yourself right now."

I shook my head. "She's supposed to be there."

"I know, but she is here, and you need to be in the maternity wing. We can have someone videotape parts of it if you want, and we'll bring the baby to see her the minute we can."

I looked at him and frowned. "Is it bad that for the last week all I've said is that I want the baby out, but now I just want them to stay in their safe little home? Where people don't pull guns on people and the world is just warm and soft?"

Dimitri shook his head. "No, it's your maternal instinct. You're scared because your best friend was shot and you're becoming a mom. But I promise, when you hold our baby, you'll feel better," Dimitri soothed.

I bit my lip as it trembled and I nodded my head, leaning toward him and wrapping my arms around his neck. I sighed deeply and rested my cheek on his shoulder.

"I want someone sitting with her the whole time I'm gone. I don't want her to be alone," I whispered.

Dimitri nodded and stood up, helping me from the chair. "Christian should be released from protective holding any minute, he will be here," Dimitri said as he pulled me to my feet. I nodded and draped the blanket over the back of the chair when the door slid open, Christian and his alternate Guardian in the doorway.

"If either of your need us, we will be in labour and delivery," Dimitri said as he guided me out of the room. Christian nodded solemnly and sat down in my chair. I glanced over my shoulder and looked at Guardian Lewis, jerking my head to the room. I wanted him to watch her like a hawk.

"How is she?" Dimitri whispered.

His voice jerked me awake and I opened my eyes, turning my head to look at him at the door. He was talking to a surgeon, Lissa's surgeon.

"She's stable. She is awake and we have removed her intubation tube. She is groggy but that is to be expected," the doctor said quietly.

"She's awake?"

Both of them turned to look at me in the dark. The doctor nodded and stepped closer to my bed.

"She is. Her Majesty asked about you and the baby. I was coming to get information."

"Can I see her?" I asked quietly.

"Not yet, it's best that you rest."

"Please!"

The doctor looked conflicted but said he would see what he could do. When he left Dimitri came back to me and smiled softly at me, kissing my forehead.

"How is she?" I whispered.

"Sleeping like a perfect angel," Dimitri said, "Sleeps just like you. Right down to the nose scrunches."

I hummed quietly and stroked his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said, "How do you feel?"

I shrugged. "Sore."

Dimitri smirked. "After witnessing what I just did, if you weren't sore, I'd be concerned."

I snorted a laugh and smacked his chest when a nurse came into the room with a wheelchair.

"We can only give you ten minutes, but I can bring you and the baby down to see Her Majesty," the nurse offered quietly. I nodded and started pulling the blankets off my legs. Dimitri helped me get into the wheelchair and then lifted our daughter out of the crib, setting her into my arms.

I smiled and brushed my lips over her head before holding her closer to y chest, smiling at the nurse when Dimitri took the handles of the wheelchair and headed for Lissa's room. I kept looking down at the baby in my arms and marvelled at how small she was. She felt so much bigger when she was ramming her foot into my ribcage but she was so small. Dimitri could cup her head in the palm of his hand and she looked like a doll in his arms.

"Still marvelled?"

"How can someone be so small?" I asked.

"We were both that small once," Dimitri mused quietly as he pushed me into the elevator. I hummed and smiled when he kissed the top of my head. I could feel his cheek against my hair as he looked over my shoulder, stroking her arm with his fingers.

"I find it hard to believe you were ever this little," I sighed.

"Believe it. She weighs more than I did when I was born."

I balked. "You weighed less than eight pounds!?"

Dimitri laughed. "Seven pounds four ounces."

I rolled my eyes. "My poor vagina isn't going to recover."

Dimitri snorted a laugh and started pushing the wheelchair again, turning the corner that was by Lissa's room. I looked down at the baby and was happy to see her eyes open. They were blue and bottomless, like looking into a blue lake in the middle of the summer.

Guardians Gibson and Manning were standing outside Lissa's door when we got there, both of them giving us soft smiles.

"Congratulations boss," Guardian Gibson said happily.

"Thanks, Ross," I said tiredly with a smile, "Ain't she a beauty?"

I angled my arms so that they could see her and they both nodded, Manning cooing quietly.

"She's gonna take after her Momma," Gibson said with a smirk, "Congratulations Dimitri. I can't tell you how happy I am for you both."

"Thank you. But I do believe that there is someone that needs to meet this important lady," Dimitri said softly. Manning nodded and knocked on the door before opening it, stepping aside for us to walk in. I sighed quietly and smiled at Christian when I saw him, my eyes going to Lissa when I saw her eyes were open.

"Hi, you up for a visitor?" I asked softly. Lissa's eyes showed how exhausted she was, but she nodded and smiled.

"Of course," Lissa said. Christian got up and moved his chair so that I could get closer to the bed, standing so that he could see the baby too.

"Oh my god, she's beautiful," Lissa said softly, reaching her hand down and stroking her arm. "What did you name her?"

"Leah Jamie Belikov," I said with a smile. Lissa's eyes watered and let out a wet chuckle.

"I can't believe I missed it. I had to go and get myself shot," she said. I bit my lip and looked at her with furrowed brows.

"Liss, I'm so sorry. I should have made sure that protocols were tighter and that everyone was searched before going in. I never would have thought that Emily would do this."

Lissa shushed me and patted my shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. She wasn't doing it willingly. She was under compulsion. I could see it in her eyes," Lissa said, "I gave a report of what I remembered to Lewis. He's almost as guilt-ridden as you are. Your auras are depressing."

I pursed my lips. "Do you think you're strong enough to hold her, or do you want me to lift her up?"

Lissa smiled and nodded her head vigorously. I stood up slowly and rested Leah on Lissa's right side. Lissa's hand came up and she cupped Leah's back, cooing quietly and kissing her head.

"She's perfect. I'm so happy for the two of you!" Lissa enthused, smiling despite the tiredness that was seeping in. I knew that she was probably as exhausted as I was. Christian took the baby from me and cuddled her for a little as Lissa nodded off.

"How are you feeling?" Christian asked quietly as he rocked Leah gently, looking down at her with a smile.

"I'm okay, tired," I said, "Does holding her make you want your own?"

Christian smirked. "We've talked about it, more and more since you got pregnant," he said honestly. I smiled and absently rubbed my stomach again. It was still distended, but it felt different to touch.

"I'm starting a trend," I snorted. Dimitri chuckled and took Leah from Christian when she started to fuss, cuddling her to him and kissing her head.

"We should probably get you back to your room before the nurse comes looking for you," Dimitri said handing Leah to me. I nodded and crossed my legs and cradled Leah.

"We'll see you soon," Christian said quietly and tucked the blanket around Lissa's legs. I nodded and Dimitri started moving the chair. I closed my eyes and patted Leah gently as we moved.

"You look like you're going to fall asleep," Dimitri chuckled. I snorted a laugh and shrugged. After a few minutes, I opened my eyes, seeing a few of the Guardians from Lissa's team slinking off in the other direction. I raised my brows to myself but when we rounded the corner and Lewis was standing outside my room, I knew something was up.

"What did you do? I saw the twins hurrying away," I said with an eye roll.

Lewis shrugged. "We had a little something for you and the baby," he said and opened the door. I laughed and shook my head, seeing the balloons next to my bed. There were so many of them that it took up half the room. But that wasn't it. When Dimitri wheeled us in there was a stack of gifts next to the crib.

"You guys didn't need to do all of this," I said quietly and looked over my shoulder.

"Please, we've all been excited for this day. Hard ass becomes a mommy. Plus, if you two ever need a few hours to just relax or sleep, you've got twenty Guardians who will help. Plus, Her Majesty will take any baby time she can get."

I smiled and picked up the closest gift to me. It was flat and I looked at the tag.

"Should I be worried about what you bought?"

Lewis smirked but shook his head. "No. You'll like it."

I kissed Leah's head and lifted her up to Dimitri, smiling at how perfect they looked together. I took the lid off the gift in my lap and smirked.

"Mommy's Favourite Guardian," I laughed and showed it to Dimitri. He laughed and thanked Lewis.

"I promise, the first time I bring the babe to see everyone, she'll be wearing this," I said, "Thank you. I love it."

"I'm glad. Now, I'm going to let you rest. I'll come by and see you later with an update about Lissa."

"Thank you," Dimitri said softly. I got out of the wheelchair and back onto the bed, getting comfortable against the propped-up pillows. Dimitri stood by the end of the bed and was rocking Leah, speaking quietly. I sighed to myself and folded my arm behind my head.

The feeling in my chest was overwhelming. I had grown up knowing that I wasn't going to have a happy family. I grew in my relationship with Dimitri knowing that he had given up his opportunity to have a child. And now, six years down the road and we had our own little family.

I juggled my bag and the diaper bag on both shoulders while my other hand cupped the back of Leah's head. She was snug in her sling, big blue eyes looking up at me in wonder. It felt good walking down this hallway, a hallway I had walked down every day for years.

I nodded at the Guardian posted at the door, trying to fall back into my Guardian decorum. But I also needed to remember that I was still technically on maternity leave.

"I'm here to surprise Queenie," I said with a smile. The Guardian rolled his eyes and knocked on the door before opening it. Not declaring me would have set everyone inside on edge, but when eyes landed on me, everyone relaxed.

"You are not supposed to be working!" Lissa exclaimed from behind the desk.

"I'm not, I am asking my friend if she would like some company while she signs paperwork," I said innocently, "All while I sigh off on some paperwork I can't delegate."

Lissa rolled her eyes and gave me a dry look but stood up, squealing quietly and clapping her hands as she came closer. She hugged me gently and then looked into the sling, cooing excitedly.

"Hello, my little princess! How is my angel doing today?!" Lissa enthused. I chuckled and carefully pulled her out of the sling, handing her over to her doting Aunt. Lissa smiled at Leah and lifted her up and kissed her nose, snuggling her to her chest and beaming at me.

"My day just got so much better," she said as she walked back to her desk. I followed and sat in the chair across from her desk, kissing Leah's cheek.

"I could just eat you up!"

"Easy there, Lissa."

Lissa smirked again and looked at Leah's outfit, smiling brightly.

"Best little Guardian ever! I'm gonna say that you're my personal favourite!"

I pulled my binder out of my bag and set it on the edge of her desk, opening it to the page I had been working on and grabbed a pen from the holder on Lissa's desk. Lissa cooed and awed at Leah while I worked, no doubt lost in her own little world.

"Did you like my baby gift?"

I looked up from my binder. "Huh?"

"The gift? I sent it a few days after I left the hospital."

I furrowed my brows and Guardian Silva, our other female Guardian, stepped forward.

"Your Majesty; you asked us not to send it because you wanted to see her face when she opened it. It's in the credenza."

Lissa looked at me with a somewhat guilty look and Guardian Silva pulled a white clothing box and handed it to me. I set my pen down and opened the box, smiling softly.

"You didn't."

"I am her God Mother, I saw it and knew that it was perfect," Lissa said.

"She isn't baptized yet," I chuckled, pulling the silk christening dress from the box.

"Thank you."

Lissa nodded and leaned back in her chair. "Well, I have to say I have a better reason to remember December 2."

"Oh?"

"I can just remember that it's this precious one's birthday instead of what else happened. A day to remember, that's for sure."

I laughed dryly. "Oh yes. It's a day to remember."

A little bit of fluff to make up for all the angst I've been writing (and haven't released yet.)

Super rough edit. I will probably come back again and re-edit.