Okay. So sorry about the short notice change thing, I just wasn't up to making a whole new story at the time. So after this is posted, that first chapter will be deleted, and this story will start. Got it? Reviews are STRONGLY appreciated, and I love all of you dearly.

ONE WEEK LATER

"Mmm," I yawned, sitting up in bed. I swung my legs over the edge and stumbled to the bathroom. Grimacing at the reflection staring back at me, I splashed cold water on my face and ran a brush through my knotted hair. Fingering the star-shaped mark on my neck that I had recently received, I sighed, my thoughts straying to Dimitri. I opened the cabinet, reaching for my toothpaste. I squatted down to find it, and my heart stopped, blood running cold.

No, I thought firmly, no!

I sprang up and dashed to the calendar hanging on the wall.

"Shit," I muttered, grabbing my cell of the nightstand. I speed-dialed Lissa's number and she picked up on the fourth ring.

"Hey," She mumbled groggily.

"Liss, get here, now!" Hoping that my single sentence sounded urgent enough for her to run over here, I snapped the phone shut and dragged my feet to the bathroom. I slid down to the floor and put my head in my hands, thinking of my options.

Lissa crashed through the door and slid into the room, dressed in a silk lilac robe.

"Rose, what's wrong?" She demanded frantically, dipping to her knees beside me on the tile.

"I missed my period." I stated, looking up at her with wide-eyes. Her brows turned in and she stared at me.

"I don't understand,"

"Liss, I think I'm pregnant..." I whispered, a single tear leaking from my eyes.

"Rose!" She exclaimed, putting her arms gently around my shoulders. "What do you want to do?" She asked after a minute.

"I can't tell my mom—not yet." I said.

"Hmm," She pondered. "Is Tasha still here?"

"I think. Let's go check at the cabin," I stood up, aware of my every movement, just in case there was something budding inside me. I changed my clothes and put on some shoes, while Lissa sat in my bed, biting her lip in thought.

We went downstairs and, since it was a Sunday, we were let out of the dorm. We strolled down the sidewalks to the forest.

"Are you dropping out?" Lissa asked while we walked through the trees.

"It depends on what happens. I might not be pregnant, I might be. And then there's the problem with Adrian..." She let me shadow off to my thoughts, and I became more and more worried.

We walked in silence to the cabin and knocked on the door hopefully. A moment later, a heavy-eyed Tasha opened the door and blinked in surprise when she saw us. I spoke first.

"Tasha, all arguments in the past, I need you to help me."

"Rose, what's wrong? You look pale." Tasha asked as she led us inside and we sat on the bed.

"Tasha," I began, not knowing where to start, "if I tell you something, will you promise not to judge me?" She looked at me curiously.

"Of course," She assured me.

"I-I'm....pregnant." I stuttered. Her eyes went wide at first, but then grew soft and understanding.

"Who's the father?"

"Adrian." I said boldly.

"Hmm. I thought something was up between you guys," She mused.

"What should I do?"

"Well, you need to tell somebody. Who knows?"

"Just Lissa," I glanced at her, feeling unease and worry through the bond. Tasha looked at Lissa, and Lissa smiled softly.

"Well," Tasha continued, looking back at me, "you need to tell your mom at some point." I grimaced; telling my mom was not something I wanted to do right now. I could only imagine her reaction.

"I'll tell her eventually. I'm eighteen in two days, and she will have no more control over me then. I'm dropping out and seeing if I'm able to find an apartment somewhere with Adrian,"

"I can go live in the royal court with Christian—I'll be protected there." Lissa spoke up. She'd been so quiet this whole time; I nearly forgot she was there.

"I feel bad leaving you," I told her, my face falling.

"It's okay," She reassured me, putting her hand on top of mine, "I understand. You have to come visit me, though."

"Of course I'll visit you," I smiled.

Interrupting our moment, Tasha said, "Go tell Adrian. The sooner you do the better. I'm glad you came to me first,"

"Thank you for listening, I just needed to tell someone," I said.

She smiled back. "You can come to me for anything,"

We bid Tanya goodbye and headed off to see Adrian and break the news. I bit my lip as we walked down the not-so-busy sidewalks to the Moroi Guest Housing. It was a little early to be up, so I was prepared to wake Adrian if I had to. Lissa and I were silent until we came to his door.

"Rose I don't think I should come in with you," Lissa said uncertainly. I looked at her like she was crazy (which could be a possibility, she had been there before).

"Why shouldn't you?"

"Well, you're the one with the baby, and he's the father, so..." I sighed, reluctantly understanding her point.

"Okay. Will you at least wait out here somewhere?" I pleaded. She nodded and went to stand farther down the hallway to give us some privacy.

Taking a slow, deep breath, I knocked on the door. After a few mutters, Adrian opened the door. He smiled and tried to flatten down his bed head.

"Bună dimineaţa, dragostea mea, vino inch," (Good morning, my love, come in,) He waved me in. I sat on the couch.

"You realize I have no idea what you just said. What language was that?" I asked.

"Romanian," He said like everybody spoke Romanian in America on a daily basis.

"Huh," I replied, thinking of what his reaction would be. I looked around at the surroundings I had come to know so well in the past week. Adrian came and sat next to me on the couch and put his hand over mine.

"What brings you here at this hour?" He inquired. I looked at him with a steady gaze and opened my mouth, but closed it when nerves got the best of me. Noticing my hesitation, he put his hand on my cheek.

"What's troubling you, little Damphir?" He asked gently.

"Adrian. Don't freak out, but—I-I'm...pregnant." I closed my eyes, waiting for an outburst. When none came, I opened one eye to see Adrian turned to me, his blankly staring at me.

"A-are you sure?" He asked hesitantly.

"Pretty sure," I whispered.

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"I'm dropping out on my birthday, and...I want you to come with me. We can get an apartment. Adrian, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I-I love you." I told him.

"Uh, let me think about it," he said, standing up and reaching for a liquor bottle across the room.

"No, you need to stay with me on this!" I grabbed his arm so he couldn't get away. His eyes fell to my hand on his arm, and he gently pulled it away.

"Just settle down," He mumbled. My mouth fell open.

"You're going to leave me, aren't you?" I cried, standing up.

"What?! No! I-" He started, but I cut him off.

"I don't want to hear it. Your great-aunt was right—Moroi men don't want Damphirs," I said, laughing bitterly. I wheeled around and headed for the door.

"Rose, Wait!" Adrian leapt up and grabbed my arm. I swatted him away.

"Don't touch me!" I shouted.

"Just let me talk to you, you're overreacting!" He shouted back pleadingly. I just glared at him.

"I can't believe you'd do this." I shook my head before storming out the door, causing a startled Lissa to jump up from her position on a bench down the hall.

"Rose! Come back!" Lissa yelled after me.

I ran to get away, disgusted that Adrian would even consider leaving me like this. Tears blurring my vision, I ran out the building, ignoring the shouts trailing after me.

Hmm. What is Rose to do now? Review and find out.....