This is set after Rose gets shot. She wakes up in the hospital and Dimitri isn't there.

My eyes felt heavy but I knew I had to wake up. There were unfamiliar sounds all around and the unknown definitely sent chills down my spine. Everything was groggy but I could make out a figure standing beside me.

"Ms. Hathaway?"

I murmured what I could in response. Words weren't coming to me easily and I didn't see much point in straining myself.

"Ms. Hathaway, can you hear me? My name is Nurse Jones and you've been in an accident."

A small laugh escaped my lips but came out more as a chocking clamor. An accident she says. Right.

"You're going to be okay. I'm just going to get Doctor Peterson for you."

I heard another sound and then the room was silent. I figured I should probably attempt to wake up, especially with a doctor on the way to check my physical and more than likely mental stability. I squinted my eyes to the harsh light above the bed. God it was bright. Next I maneuvered my hands to my face. They were numb and felt completely alien against my cheeks. How long had I been asleep? Was it hours? Was it years? Not much could be made from a physical standpoint, but al least some white coat was on his way to explain everything.

As if on cue the door opened. I widened my eyes to meet his face.

"Ms. Hathaway, my name is Dr. Peterson. Welcome back."

I tried to adjust my position in order to see him better but he beat me to the punch.

"Here, let me help you."

Suddenly the whole bed bent into a seated arrangement and I was helpless to control it. I stared at him. He was tall and good-looking by any human standard. And that was all I need to know. He was human. Which meant I wasn't in a moroi hospital.

"What do you remember?" He asked me inquisitively.

I made no indication of answering his question. I remembered everything, but how much did he know? He took my silence as a cue.

"You were brought in by a dhampire guardian with a gunshot wound. We worked on you for seven hours in surgery. There were a few complications but we resolved them and now you're fine. You'll need a recovery period of at least six months though."

So he knows about everything. Well, at least that there are less than ordinary things lurking in the shadows at night.

"Complications?"

"Maybe you should take some time to yourself before I get into the details."

"Dr. Peterson, please. Tell me. "

He paused for a moment and then took a breath.

"At approximately 3:23 AM you died on the operating table. We tried everything but nothing worked. Your time of death was called and we began packing up. And then...you started talking. You were gone but your body was still..."

"What was I saying?"

"It wasn't English. I couldn't make it out. But about three minutes passed and a heart rhythm was found."

"So I just... came back to life, all by myself?"

"Technically speaking... yes."

I took a moment. The whole story sounded ridiculous, but hey, I was here wasn't I?

"There is one more thing. You survived the surgery, but the fetus didn't. Our obstetrics surgeon did everything she could but the baby was dead the moment you were shot."

"What?" I breathed.

"I am very sorry." He turned and left the room.

Baby? What baby? That wasn't possible, was it? The only way I could have been pregnant-No. The only man I've been with was a dhampire. Two dhampire's cant have a child, everyone knows that. So how was Dr. Peterson telling me I'd just lost mine? I couldn't help the tear that fell down my cheek. I didn't believe it, so why did I feel so broken inside? No, it was a mistake, it had to be. But even so, no one would ever find out.