Pregnant.

Rose was… pregnant?

Was Dimitri hearing her right? Yes - he had to be, judging by the incriminating object now sat on the counter, with the dark blue plus staring up at him.

Pregnant.

Rose stood in front of the counter, shuffling between her two feet as she waited for a reaction from her boyfriend. After all, she had just told him she was pregnant, and considering it was supposed to be biologically impossible, she had expected some kind of a response. She had expected anger, expecting him to blow up in her face, or at least expel a heavy sigh or two. But, no reaction came.

Dimitri sat on his stool, staring down intently at the pregnancy test in front of him, his brows furrowed tightly, for what was beginning to feel like a life time. Rose had no idea what he was thinking. Ever since they had met, the two of them had an instant connection, always seeming to know what the other was thinking or feeling, despite their numerous attempts to hide their emotions from each other. Yet, there was no indication whatsoever as to what was going through the mind of the man in front of her right now.

Minute after minute of pure silence passed by, and Rose could finally bear it no longer.

"Oh god," she groaned, running a shaky hand through her tangled hair. "I shouldn't have told you, I shouldn't have –" She cut herself off before the tears began rolling down her cheeks. She bit back a sob before quickly turning away from Dimitri, where he still sat staring at the test, and rushed as fast as she could towards the front door of their apartment.

He hated her. He absolutely hated her - she thought, at least.

Dimitri barely registered her leaving, too wrapped up in the billions of thoughts buzzing around his head. Was he happy? Angry? Confused? Yes, he was definitely confused. How was this possible? Had she cheated on him? No – that was a ridiculous thought. Rose would never in a million years betray him like that, and he was confident enough in their relationship to know that. He silently chastised himself for the thought ever crossing his mind.

But then, if she hadn't cheated, how was it possible? How was his girlfriend, a Dhampir like him, pregnant?

Was she even pregnant? Maybe it was just some kind of elaborate prank?

No. If Rose's reaction was anything to go by, this was definitely not a joke. Besides, Dimitri and Rose had both accepted the fact that they wouldn't have children together, but even so, it wasn't something they would go so far as to joke about like this.

Rose was definitely pregnant.

Pregnant.

And where was she?

Shit, he thought, suddenly realising the fact that Rose had fearfully rushed out of the apartment over five minutes ago.

Considering the cascade of tears flowing down her cheeks, significantly blurring her vision, Rose was surprised to have made it all the way to Lissa's without literally running into anything or anyone. She wasn't sure what she was doing here, but she knew that she needed comfort. She needed to talk to her best friend about what was happening. She was so confused, so upset, and she needed help from someone who had always been like a sister to her.

She flew up the stairs to the front door, pounding on it repetitively until it opened. It swung open to reveal a very confused and slightly agitated Christian Ozera, whose eyes narrowed in confusion when he was met with Rose's fragile state.

"Christian, I – I," she began, attempting to talk through her soft cries.

"Rose… What's wrong?" he asked, genuinely worried. Despite his attempts at hiding his true feelings, Christian cared deeply for Rose. Although at first they had despised each other, constantly bickering and making snide remarks about the other, he had grown to love her like a little sister, and seeing her so upset was concerning. He had never seen Rose in this state before, at least not since the time Dimitri had once been turned into a Strigoi, where she spent the first few days practically inconsolable. Now, when Rose could do nothing but rush forward and fling her arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder, Christian's concern for his friend tripled. "Uh… Lissa?" He called out, seeking help from his girlfriend as to how to help the crying woman in his arms.

Not two seconds later, Lissa emerged into the hallway wondering what it was that Christian wanted.

"What's up?" She asked, before her gaze landed on Rose. Having seen her just earlier in the day, she was confused about why she was here now, and why she was so upset. She had been fine earlier, despite her tiredness, so she wondered what had happened to make her change so drastically. "Oh - Rose? What's wrong? Are you okay?" She asked as she rushed over to comfort her, at the same time saving her boyfriend from his awkwardness.

"I, I'm –"

"Come on, let's go upstairs," she said kindly, taking Rose by the hand and leading her up the stairs to her bedroom, all the while Rose sniffling behind her. Something was very wrong, she could tell – it was unusual for her friend to be acting this way.

"Rose, take a breath. What happened? Why are you upset?" She asked as the two sat side by side at the bottom of the bed.

Rose took several slow, calming breaths, gaining control of her emotions before she felt able to speak.

"You were right, Liss," she uttered quietly.

Lissa didn't say anything in response, but raised an eyebrow inquisitively, curious as to what she was talking about.

"I am pregnant."

Lissa couldn't believe her ears – this had to be some sort of joke surely? Lissa had joked earlier about the possibility of Rose being pregnant, but she knew that it was just that – a joke. It wasn't possible.

"What – How?" Rose couldn't be pregnant, unless… She gasped - "Did you –"

"No!" Rose exclaimed, interjecting before Lissa was able to ask what she was implying. "Of course I didn't – it's Dimitri's."

"But… that's impossible!"

"I know, Liss," she sighed. "I don't know what to do."

"Well, have you told Dimitri?"

"Yes… that's why I'm here." Rose could feel a lump forming again in her throat, and more tears threatened to spill over. "I didn't – he didn't – we –"

"Rose, calm down," Lissa comforted, reaching out and taking one of Rose's hands in her own. "Talk me through it."

Rose took a deep breath. "I was thinking about what you said – about getting your implant replaced – and I realised that I needed mine done as well because I was way overdue to have it done…. And then I thought, maybe I'll just have it taken out since I can't get pregnant with Dimitri anyways… but then I was sick again when I got home, so I thought I'd take a test just to be sure and – and –"

"And it was positive?"

She nodded before continuing. "It's ridiculous!" She exclaimed. "But I was just constantly feeling sick, throwing up, feeling dizzy… and I was tired, always so tired… I thought maybe it was just food poisoning or something – I'm not supposed to be able to get pregnant with him!"

Lissa frowned. "Are you sure it was positive, Rose?"

"Yes. There's no denying it. The plus wasn't even faded – it was super dark, as in - 'hey look – this twenty year old, unwedded, freak is somehow pregnant with another Dhampir's baby!' - dark!"

Rose was starting to get worked up again, and she fought to keep in control of her emotions. She was just feeling so fragile – at least now she could blame it on her hormones, she thought.

"I see… And you said you told Dimitri?"

"Yes."

"And what did he say?"

"Nothing. He didn't say anything. He just sat there staring at the stick. He didn't even look at me. Oh god – what if he thinks I cheated on him?" She took her hand from Lissa's and wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to provide her own comfort.

"Rose, he wouldn't think that at all."

"You did!"

"Only for a split second – you're not like that Rose, I know that."

"But – it's impossible…"

Lissa couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips. "You're not exactly possible, Rose. In the nicest way…"

Rose was silently thankful that Lissa was attempting to bring a sense of light-heartedness to the situation. Although she was in no frame of mind to laugh, Lissa's attempt of humour helped keep her somewhat calm.

Sighing, she looked down at her stomach. It was still flat, of course, but the fact that there was a baby inside it made Rose feel… strange? Uncomfortable? Happy? She wasn't sure.

"What am I going to do, Liss? I don't think I can do this…"

"Of course you can!" Lissa exclaimed, reaching out for one of Rose's hands once more. "If anyone can do this, it's you and Dimitri. Didn't he always want children?"

"Yes, but-"

"But nothing! Somehow, Rose, you've given Dimitri exactly what he's always wanted in life. He has you, and now you're giving him a family. You're having his child."

A small smile crept onto Rose's face at Lissa's words – she couldn't deny that she used to wish she had the ability to bear Dimitri's child. Picturing Dimitri – cradling a new born baby in his arms and softly singing lullabies in his native language with a grin plastered on his face – her smile grew wider.

Until Lissa spoke again.

"You're going to be a Mother, Rose."

In an instant, her smile faltered and her head fell forward into her hands. "Oh god… Liss, I can't – I can't be a mom."

"Yes, you can. Trust me. You and Dimitri are going to be amazing."

A tear managed to escape its barrier behind Rose's eye and slowly rolled down her cheek.

"Please don't cry. This is a good thing. You just need to go home to Dimitri and talk about it with him, and then you'll see that everything is going to be okay."

"What if he hates me?"

"He's not going to. I promise."

As soon as Dimitri's frazzled thoughts came back down to Earth, and he realised that Rose had rushed off, he was frantic. She was upset, and he had no doubt made the situation worse by not saying anything to her. He needed to find her, apologise to her, so that they could talk about this rationally.

When he had phoned her for the seventh time, and it once again went to voicemail, he sighed before leaving a message and hanging up: "Roza – where are you? Please come home. We need to talk about this."

Slumping down dejectedly on the sofa, he next phoned Christian - his charge and Lissa's boyfriend - deciding that, in her despondency, she might have gone to see her best friend. Thankfully, it only rang once before he answered.

"Christian! Is Rose there? Did she go to see Vasilisa?"

"Yeah, she's here. What's going on?"

"I couldn't explain it even if I tried…" Dimitri sighed. "Is she okay?"

"She was crying, man. What's happened?" Although he was glad to hear that she was somewhere safe, his heart sank to know how distraught she was. If only he had said something to her… "Oh – she's just come downstairs, actually."

"Is she coming home?"

Dimitri heard Christian lower the phone before calling out. "Rose – it's Dimitri, he wants to know if you're going home?" Returning his attention to Dimitri, he added, "She nodded."

He sighed gratefully, relieved to know that she was coming back. "Thanks, Christian."

When she walked through the door not ten minutes later, he instantly rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her in a silent apology. "Roza… Are you okay?" He asked once he pulled away.

Rose could only shake her head, unable to find the words.

"Oh Milaya - come here," he said, taking her in his arms again before leading her over to the sofa where they sat holding hands. "Why are you upset?"

"Why am I upset? Because – because… I'm pregnant, Dimitri!" She exclaimed. "And you didn't say anything – I thought you hated me."

"Of course not, Rose. Never," he said, sighing deeply. "I was just – confused."

"I didn't cheat on you," Rose replied sternly, her warning tone threatening that he not even suggest it.

"I know."

"You do?"

Dimitri nodded, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

Rose felt relieved to know that he didn't think she cheated on him, but she still didn't know exactly how he felt. Was he disappointed? Did he blame her?

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Because… I'm pregnant."

Dimitri's brows furrowed and a frown crept onto his face in confusion. "You don't need to apologise, Rose. I'm not angry. Besides, this is on both of us."

A stray tear rolled down her cheek, before Dimitri reached out and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "I'm scared," she mumbled.

"Me too," he replied sincerely. While Dimitri still wasn't entirely sure how this happened, he couldn't deny the sense of fear he was feeling deep down.

"What are we going to do?"

"What do you mean?" He asked, curiously.

"I mean, what are we going to do? I don't know how to be a mom!"

"We'll learn," he stated simply.

"But –"

"Roza, please relax," he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and placing a gentle kiss on her temple. "Neither of us know anything about being parents. Sure, I helped out a bit with Paul when he was a baby, but that's the extent of my knowledge. We'll just have to learn - together."

Rose felt calmed in Dimitri's presence, and although she still hadn't quite wrapped her head around the gravity of the situation, she felt reassured that they would deal with it together. Together they were strong, and she knew that just as in battle, they would work as a team to get through anything.

They sat in a comfortable silence, both trying to work out what they were each feeling, trying to grasp a hold of what this situation meant for them.

"Oh my God…" Dimitri muttered a few moments later, breaking their silence and making Rose jump almost out of her skin.

"What?"

"I'm going to be a Dad."

With Dimitri's words, a wide smile spread on both their faces, reaching their ears and casting a happy twinkle in their eyes.

A dad. He was going to finally be a father.

"Yes, you are," Rose chuckled happily at Dimitri's new found excitement. Unable to control himself, he engulfed her in his embrace, wrapping her tightly in a hug. When he pulled away, his hands instantly fell to her still flat stomach, and Rose didn't think it was possible but his smile grew even wider.

"You're going to be a Mama," he chuckled. "Oh my God, Rose – we're going to be parents!"

He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, and Rose instantly felt the emotion and love conveyed in that one act. She was scared, confused, frightened at the thought of being a mother, but seeing Dimitri so ecstatic warmed her heart. She knew that they would be okay. They were going to be a family.

Thank you for all the positive reviews on the last chapter. I hope this one ties it all together nicely for now and doesn't leave it on such a cliffhanger!

I hope you all have a very happy holidays!