"Adrian… Help Bailey get dressed please. I can't be late for work again…" I called from my bedroom. "Fuck." I muttered as I tried to gather all my things to head back to court.

"No need for the nasty language guardian Hathaway." Adrian said from the door. I turned to see him standing there with my daughter, Bailey standing in front of him. I smiled down at her.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. Mommy didn't mean to cuss." Bailey smiled up at me. I wasn't sure if I loved it, or hated it, because every time she smiled… I saw him… I saw Dimitri. I hadn't seen him in almost two and a half years. He had no idea about Bailey nor would he ever know.

"Its okay momma, I'm used to it." She said. I shook my head at her. Adrian was laughing so hard his face was turning red.

"Shut up Ivashkov." I grabbed my stake, shoving it into my belt.

"Make sure she gets to daycare on time today." Adrian nodded.

"Got it mom." I rolled my eyes. They followed me to the door as I pulled my shoes on. I leaned down and kissed Bailey on the cheek.

"Behave today… Understand? No more punching people in the face… Kay? We don't need you kicked out. Don't take after mommy." Bailey smiled again, and all I saw was Dimitri. It wasn't fair. I'd been able to push him out of my life for the past two years, but looking into her dark brown eyes, and seeing that smile… the exact same smile, made it hard to actually forget.

"I'll behave today. I promise momma." I nodded.

"That's my girl. I love you."

"Love you too." She wrapped her little arms around my neck. I let her go, and hugged Adrian.

"Thank you again." He nodded. I opened my mouth to say something, but he put a hand up.

"I've got it." He said. I smiled.

"Thanks." He chuckled before I walked out of the house, and started towards the court. I loved my daughter more than anything in the world. Dimitri was Bailey's father. I wasn't sure how it happened, and neither was anyone else… or atleast.. The few people that knew. Dhampirs weren't supposed to be able to reproduce with other dhampirs. Dimitri and I were both dhampirs, so we don't really understand. Liss and I guess it's a shadow-kissed effect. One of the many. I don't regret what happened, and not in any way what so ever do I regret having Bailey. She is one of the best things in my life. After Dimitri disappeared back off to Russia with his family, I've had no one but Bailey, Liss, Christian, and Adrian. Adrian helps me a lot, and I'm so thankful for him. Since Bailey…Adrian and I called our little… deal or whatever off. I told him I didn't want or need to date or consider myself with anyone when I had two other lives on my hands. I had to much to worry about without having a stressful relationship. Bailey and Liss were my main priorities. Speaking of Liss… She'll be crowned as the new moroi queen within the next two or three weeks. She's so excited, and I'm so excited for her.. Although.. I'll have to take my job that much more seriously. Strigoi usually target those higher on the royal rankings. Although.. I'd never let a strigoi that close to her. When I arrived at court, Liss met me at the door.

"Hey Rose!"

"Hola Liss." She smiled.

"Your not late today. I'm proud." I pushed her playfully.

"You shut up.. Kay? You don't have a daughter to deal with." She giggled.

"Speaking of.. How is she? I've been busy the past few days. I haven't got to see her." I smiled.

"She's good. She misses you."

"I'll try and come by to see her tonight." I nodded.

"She'll like that. She needs other company besides Adrian." Liss nodded.

"Everyone does." I snorted.

"So… what have you so diligently been working on Queen-to-be Vasilisa?" She smiled.

"You really wanna know?" I nodded.

"The day before my coronation, I want to have a masquerade ball here. Wouldn't that be so much fun?" I nodded.

"Wow… That'd be… a lot of fun." She frowned.

"You don't like it." I shook my head.

"No… No.. I love it. Its just… I wouldn't be able to come. I have Bailey. Adrian would be here, and I'd have no babysitter."

"Bring her."

"I can't. I don't want to expose her into that environment yet."

"Rose… She's about to turn four. You have to do it sometime."

"I know." I groaned.

"Alright… We'll both be here." She smiled.

"Yay. You have to come shopping with me to get a dress."

"When?" I asked.

"Now."

"WHAT? I have to get Bailey in like… a few hours. I can't go shopping." Liss laughed at me.

"Dear, I'm about to be queen. I don't even have to leave the court to shop." She grabbed my hand and towed me down the hall to a huge computer. "See… watch. I've already been looking at dresses. I found one I think would look absolutely amazing on you." She opened the page and there was a picture of this deep blue dress. It was knee length and absolutely gorgeous. It was sort of poofy at the bottom, but not so poofy it was tacky. The top was strapless and would hug the torso of my body perfectly. It had a silver piece of cloth that was like a belt that tied around the back creating a bow.

"I love it." I whispered.

"Really?"

"Wow… I figured you'd hate it." I snorted.

"Me… hate that? How could I? Its gorgeous?" I said.

"You want it?" I nodded.

"I'll have to go get my debit card from the house." Liss shook her head at me.

"Nope. I've got it. I also picked out a dress for Bailey. Want to see?" I smiled brightly, and nodded. She clicked off that page onto another. There was a pretty white dress. It tied around the back of the neck, and would come down a little below her knees. It was so pretty.

"White is a very good color for her. It makes her eyes and her hair stand out." She nodded.

"I thought the same thing." I smiled. I could feel that she was trying to hide something through the bond. I could feel it. I wasn't going to ask though. If she wanted me to know… she'd tell me.

"What about masks?"

"Your mask I already have picked out. You don't get to see till the night of."

"Can I see Bailey's mask then?" She nodded, and scrolled down. There was a beautiful white and silver mask on the page. There was a bow on the side, and it was white and silver. It was gorgeous. I loved it.

"Its gorgeous." She nodded.

"I thought so too." I smiled.

"I can get my debit card Liss. That's got to cost a lot." Liss shook her head.

"I've got it. I promise." I sighed.

"Alright." I groaned. She smiled.

"So.. How are you doing with the whole… queen to be thing?"

"I'm coping." I smiled.

"Your going to be an amazing queen."

"Thanks." She said. I hugged her.

"Can I see your dress?"

"Also a surprise." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh fine." We went into her study and started filling out masquerade invitations and addressing them to each of the people at court. When we were done with that, I had to go get Bailey.

"If you want to stop by tonight to see her… feel free." She nodded.

"I probably will. If not… You should bring her here with you tomorrow." I sighed and nodded.

"Okay." I hugged her, and started out of the court. When I walked inside of the nursery, Baileys teacher had her sitting in a chair in the far corner. I saw a kid with a bag of ice on his face. God… Bailey. Her teacher walked over to me, and frowned.

"Mrs. Hathaway… I'm afraid Bailey has hit another kid today." I sighed.

"Did she say why?" She shook her head.

"I didn't ask. She hit him hard." I smiled and shook my head.

"She's got to stop taking after me." I muttered.

"Guardian Hathaway… We can't have this continue. If she doesn't control herself… we'll have to expel her." I nodded.

"Come here Bailey." She looked so afraid.. So innocent as she walked over to me.

"What happened Bailey?" I asked.

"Kevin was… he was picking on Haley. He pushed her, and I told him to stop. He pushed her again, and I hit him." I looked back up at her teacher.

"Mrs. Andrews… can you call Haley over here." She nodded.

"Haley." A little black headed kid walked over to us, and stood there staring up at me.

"Guardian Hathaway…" I smiled and knelt down beside her.

"Tell me… Did Kevin push you today?" She nodded, but wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Did Bailey tell him to stop?" She nodded again.

"Did he push you a second time?" She nodded.

"Yes ma'am. Bailey was only sticking up for me. She didn't want to really hurt him." I smiled.

"Thank you. You can go back to playing now." She nodded. I stood up and took Baileys hand.

"It sounds to me… like you need to pay more attention to the rest of your kids Mrs. Andrews. If not.. I'll be sure to take Bailey elsewhere." I started walking, taking Bailey with me.

"Momma… am I in trouble? I didn't mean to really hurt him but-" I shook my head.

"Your not in trouble. I'm actually so proud of you. You remind me so much of me and your da-" I cut myself off.

"You used to stick up for people when you were in school?" I nodded."All the time. I used to get in fights all the time. Just… Please.. Try not to resort to hitting after the second time. Atleast wait until the fourth time. Kay?" She nodded.

"I know I told you I wouldn't get into trouble today momma. I'm sorry." I knelt down and pulled her chin up to look at me.

"Don't apologize. You did good. You stuck up for your friends. I'm proud of you. You'll be a great guardian one day." She smiled up at me. Dimitri was in her face so much, tears sprang to my eyes. Those chocolate brown eyes, and that smile made my heart clench.

"Come on… Lets get home." We walked back to the house in silence. We went inside, and into the living room.

"How was work momma?" I smiled.

"Good."

"What'd you do?" She asked. I chuckled.

"I helped aunty Lissa pick out our dresses."

"Dresses for what?" She asked.

"There's going to be a ball at the court we're going to go to." She clapped her hands and smiled.

"Yay. I get to go?"

"Yes ma'am. You do." She clapped and jumped up and down. She was the most adorable thing ever. I walked over to her, and scooped her up into my arms. She giggled.

"I love you momma."

"I love you too baby." I said. I heard my phone go off. I walked over to it to see it was Lissa. It was a text message.

Cant make it tonight. I'm so sorry. Bring her with you tomorrow please. I'll make it up to her. I promise.

I smiled.

"Your going to work with momma tomorrow, Bailey."

"Really?" I nodded.

"Yes ma'am." She smiled.

"Its time for you to get a bath right now. Why don't you go fill up the tub.. Kay? I'll get your PJ's." She nodded and ran off down the hall. I smiled and shook my head as I went into her room, and grabbed her a pair of shorts, and a tank top. I walked in and sat them on the counter. "Call me when your done… kay?" She nodded.

"I will." She said. I went into the living room, and sat on the couch… waiting for her to call. About ten minutes later, she called. I grabbed her towel, and helped her out. I dried her off, and helped her dress. When she was done, I took her into her room, and tucked her in.

"Will you stay with me?" I nodded, cuddled up next to her in her bed.

"Momma?" She whispered.

"Yes?" I asked.

"When are you going to tell me who my daddy is?" I felt my heart stop. She'd only asked that once before and she was two when that happened. She was almost four now, and I knew I couldn't avoid the question forever, but now wasn't the time I wanted to explain.

"I'll tell you one day baby. What made you ask?" I whispered.

"I see kids daddy's come pick them up from daycare all the time, and… I don't know.. I kind of wish I knew who my daddy was." She said.

"I know baby. I know." A tear slowly ran down my cheek. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Can you tell me what he was like?"

"He was amazing. He was the sweetest guy you'd ever meet, and he'd do anything to help someone in need." I whispered. My chest ached as I spoke of him. I sighed.

"He looks just like you. Your hair and eyes are exactly the same, and when you smile… I always see him. You remind me so much of him." She smiled.

"Will I get to meet him someday?" She asked. Tears were flowing more consistently down my cheeks.

"I hope so." I whispered. She turned to look up at me.

"Why are you crying momma? I'm sorry. I didn't mean too-" I cut her off my placing a finger to her lips.

"Don't. Its not your fault. I miss your daddy too." She nodded.

"Oh. I'm sorry momma." I smiled.

"Its okay baby. Just go to sleep." I laid down next to her, and pulled her against my side, and slowly fell asleep with my baby girl in my arms.