The Next Nine Months

Chapter 1: 8 Weeks

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy. All characters, names and similarities to the books belong to Richelle Mead. This is purely a work of fanfiction and is not meant for monetary gain or copyright infringement.

This is a continuation of "When He Returns" you may want to check that out first if you haven't already read it.

DPOV

It had been two blissful weeks since the love of my life had told me she was having my child for the second time. I could not have been happier or more excited. The best part about this time was that I would get to be there from day one. I wanted to be there for every appointment, ultrasound, craving and for all the firsts. I couldn't wait to feel our baby kick for the first time. Of course that was a long way off seeing is that we were only eight weeks in.

Rose had suggested and I had agreed that it was best to keep it between us until she was in her second trimester. I had been reading up what to expect and apparently things were touch and go throughout the first twelve weeks. I was itching to call my family and I was dying not being able to tell Lexie that she was going to be a big sister or brag about being a father again to the rest of our friends. Still I had to agree with her reasoning. When the time came, I would shout it from the rooftops. Until then Rose and I would enjoy our secret together.

I woke abruptly as Roza pulled out of my arms and flew out of bed. She ran for the bathroom slamming the door behind her. I sat up slightly dazed and a little confused as to what the hurry was as a glance at the clock ready five-thirty. Hell it wasn't even dark yet. My confusion faded as my keen sense of hearing picked up the sound of violent retching coming from behind the door. I leapt out of bed not bothering to put a shirt on and knocked lightly on the door.

"Roza, are you okay?" I didn't get a response so I opened the door just in time to witness the second act. Her body convulsed violently as she heaved again. I hated that she felt so miserable and I wondered silently if this was the first time she'd been ill or if it was just the first time I'd been here to witness it.

She sat back on her knees still clutching her hair in one hand. Her face was ghostly pale as she closed her eyes taking a deep cleansing breath. I felt awful that she was feeling so bad.

I knelt down beside her and was about to help her to her feet when she pushed me out of the way causing me to stumble into the door as she heaved yet a third time. A few seconds passed and I'd righted myself before she looked over at me.

"Sorry about that Comrade. I didn't want to blow chunks on you," she said with a small smile.

I nodded holding my hand out for her helping her stand up slowly.

"Are you dizzy?" I asked as she swayed slightly. She nodded.

"Extremely," I helped her back to the bedroom and sat her down on the bed. I walked back to the bathroom grabbing a glass and filling it with water.

When I returned to the bedroom she was not where I'd left her. I assumed she'd want to lie day after such an experience, but apparently I was wrong. She was standing in front of the closet deciding what to wear.

"Roza, maybe you should lie down," I said approaching her from behind. She turned around to look at me with a confused look on her face.

"Why?" she asked grabbing a pair of sweat pants and a tank top.

"You're ill," I said eying her closely. She couldn't have forgotten what had transpired only minutes ago.

She laughed. "Oh that," she said waving me off. "If I stayed in bed every time I felt like that when I was pregnant with Lexie, I'd have stayed in bed for six months."

"It was that bad the whole time?" I asked dumbly. It had said in my book that some women experience a range of nausea between weeks six and twelve, but six months did not sound right and that worried me.

She gave me a sympathetic look. "It's not that bad, don't worry so much, you'll get wrinkles and you're older than me remember," she teased effectively changing the subject as she changed her clothes.

"Where are you going so early?" I asked as she pulled on her gym shoes tying up the laces.

"Well since I'm up I thought I'd get an early start and run a few laps."

"You want to run after that?" I asked perplexed.

"Sure why not?" She shrugged pulling on a hoodie and pulling her hair back.

"Wait a few minutes and I will join you," I told her. I didn't want her running alone in case she became dizzy again.

"Okay," she said sitting down on the bed as I readied myself. I'd read that it was perfectly healthy for a woman to do mild cardio exercise if she was already active until her third trimester. I was slightly worried that Rose would not understand the meaning of mild and wanted to be there to make sure she adhered to it. I know she would never put our child in jeopardy, but I couldn't help being a little on edge since this was my first time through.

After jogging five miles which was only half of what we normal did Rose decided she'd had enough. I was very proud of her. She seemed to know her limits. I had to remind myself that unlike me she'd done this before.

I handed her a towel and a bottle of water as we walked back to the house.

"What would you like for breakfast?" I asked. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the mention of food.

"Just some plain white toast please," she requested.

"What about a glass of milk or some orange juice?" I coaxed. She couldn't just have toast. It wasn't enough.

"Uh uh!" she shook her head vehemently. "Do you want to see me vomit orange juice?"

I sighed heavily popping two slices of bread into the toaster.

"Don't worry so much. I'll be better by lunch," she assured me. I grunted handing her the toast. I felt bad about hassling her as I watched her turn green after swallowing a few bites.

She wasn't any better by dinner and as the days passed it only became worse. The only things that didn't make her nauseous were coffee and rice. She wasn't allowed more than one cup of coffee per day and the rice was not enough to sustain her. She became pale, tired easily and spent a lot of time throwing up. At the end of the week she'd lost three and a half pounds and I decided enough was enough and took her into the clinic.

"Rose, Dimitri, I hear congratulations are in order. How is everything?" Dr. Mozorov greeted us at our appointment.

"Fine," Rose said with a shrug. I gave her a look.

"Things are not fine. She has not been able to keep anything down in over a week, she's extremely fatigued and has lost at least three pounds," I told the doctor. She didn't bat an eye. She just examined her chart and began to take Rose's vitals.

"Rice and coffee?" she asked. Rose nodded.

"I can give you something for the nausea, but if last time was any indication, I doubt it'll be much help."

She scribbled something on her prescription pad and tore it off handing it to me.

"Have you been taking your prenatal vitamins?" she asked. Rose and I both nodded.

"Good, I see we have you scheduled for your twelve week check up and first ultra sound in about three weeks. Everything seems normal and is in line with your last pregnancy. If anything out of the ordinary should occur don't hesitate to call my private number," she said writing it down and giving it to me as well.

"Relax Dad. She's going to be fine. You'll see. Just keep taking care of them and try not to worry."

I helped Rose down off the table and we headed to the pharmacy to fill her prescription. I paced anxiously as we waited.

"Comrade, she said to relax. Everything is fine. I could have told you that. I was just as sick the last time and everything turned out just fine."

"It isn't normal," I told her voicing my frustrations.

"Nothing about this is normal," she said placing my hands on her belly. There was no indication that she was pregnant yet, but I got her insinuation.

"You think that you are so sick because it is unnatural to be carrying my child?"

She nodded. "That is my theory."

"Rose, Dimitri, is anyone home?" Lissa called out.

"Shhh," I told her in a whisper. "Rose is sleeping."

"Sleeping in the middle of the day? Is everything alright?" Lissa asked with concern.

"Yes, she hasn't been sleeping well and is just taking a nap." I hated lying, but Rose didn't want to tell yet so I fibbed.

"Oh, well I was just coming over to ask if you guys wanted to join us for dinner. Christian's making Lasagna. It's Rose's favorite and if I don't ask her and she finds out we had it without her, she'll be mad."

I highly doubted Rose wanted to go, but I agreed anyways as not to alert Lissa to any differences in our lifestyle.

"What time is it?" Rose asked waking up from her nap. She'd been out cold for nearly three hours.

"It's nearly dinner time. Lissa invited us for Lasagna."

"Mmmm that sounds really good," she said smiling.

"Really?" I asked sitting down on the bed beside her.

"Sure it does now. We'll see how it feels later," she groaned.

"I love you Roza," I told her pulling her into my arms.

"I love you too Comrade." I kissed her forehead softly before pulling her to her feet so we could get ready to go.

When we arrived at Lissa's, my sister and Adrian were there as well already sitting around the table chatting over a bottle of wine. It was nice how easily she'd integrated into our circle of friends.

"Hey Rose. How was your nap?" Lissa asked perkily setting Andre into his booster chair. He had nearly outgrown it by now, but she still put him in there to make sure he could reach without spilling.

"Refreshing," Rose replied plopping down into a chair next to Ivashkov.

"Hey there Little Dhampir," he said kissing her cheek. They struck up a conversation and I sat down next to Viktoria.

"How are you Sestra?" I asked.

"I'm good, how are you big brother? You look stressed out," she commented.

"Couldn't be better," I told her. I meant it. Even if Rose was sick all the time and I was worried as hell about her, I was still elated by the fact that in less than eight months, I would get to see Roza give birth to our son or daughter.

Christian brought the Lasagna out and everyone began to eat. Rose sipped her lemon water cautiously as I placed some salad and a small piece of Lasagna on her plate. So far so good. She hadn't retched from the smell, but there's no telling what would happen after she ate it.

She managed to make it through dinner without becoming ill, but when we got home it was a different story. Let me just say that after witnessing what I did, I would never be able to eat Lasagna again.

"Roza, I'm really worried," I confessed to her as we lay in bed later that evening. She had her head in my lap and I was stroking her hair gently.

"Don't be. Everything is fine," she told me with a small smile. "Remember what I said? It was just like this last time. You saw pictures. I looked like death," she groaned.

"I thought that was because you were upset that I left you," I replied.

"Part of it was, but a lot of it was just plain old morning sickness, well all day long sickness really," she responded.

"You know we're supposed to visit Lexie next weekend," she reminded me.

"I don't think that's a good idea Roza."

"You should go even if I am feeling bad. She has her first one on one combat session with Alberta on Saturday. One of us should be there."

"I don't want to leave you," I told her.

"I'll be fine. Lissa will be here and Adrian and your sister. We can't neglect her for the next eight months." She was right and I knew it, but I hated the idea of leaving her even if it was only for the weekend.

"You should take Christian and Andree. It could be a guys weekend," she suggested yawning.

"Maybe," I told her. A few minutes later her breathing evened out and I knew she'd fallen asleep.

She finally convinced me to leave, but it wouldn't be easy. If I could just lock her in a bubble for the next eight months I would rest a lot easier. Before leaving I wrote down a few reminders for Rose. She of course being hormonal and well Rose had misinterpreted my reminders and accused me of being a fascist dictator. She'd screamed and yelled at me before tearing my note to bits and stuffing it in the trash. I tried to be patient with her. She didn't like being told what to do and I got that. I wasn't trying to run her life. I just wanted to make sure she was safe while I was gone. Why did she always have to have the last word? Sometimes that woman frustrated me to no end.

I fished the note out of the trash, taped it back together and tacked it to the fridge. She'd probably still be pissed when she came down, but there wasn't much I could do about that now. I had a plane to catch. She let me close enough to kiss her cheek.

"I love you Roza. Be safe," I told her. She just grumbled under her breath crossing her arms across her chest. Yep she was still pissed.

RPOV

These past few weeks had been hell on earth. I was sick as a dog and Dimitri was constantly following me around like a puppy. Thank God he was going to be gone for three day. It was three days of peace and quiet for me.

"Did you eat Rose? Are you drinking enough water? You should lie down. You shouldn't exercise if you're not eating." Ugh! I wanted to kill him. I was desperately trying to be patient with him, but it was difficult because I felt like shit. Why had I ever agreed to have another child? I must have been suffering from temporary insanity. It was so difficult the first time around. I should have learned my lesson. I just kept having to remind myself that I was doing this for our family. Dimitri wanted another child so badly and I wouldn't mind having another baby around the house. It's just getting to that point that I didn't want to have to go through.

Dimitri and I had fought this morning and it was making my already frayed nerves even worse. We were supposed to go visit Lexie this weekend, but I was feeling awful and didn't want to risk flying so I'd encouraged him to go anyways without me and take Christian and Andree with him. He'd finally agreed, but not before giving me a list of ground rules. Seriously he'd written down a list of reminders of things I should and should not do.

It read something like this:

Roza,

I just wanted to leave you a few reminders for while I am gone.

Drink 8 glasses of water per day

No more than one cup of coffee, two if one is decaf

Eat five times every day (Not just rice Look in the fridge)

Do not run more than two miles. No weight lifting and no fighting.

Go to bed early

Do not work extra shifts

Answer the phone and keep your cell on you at all times

Do not lift anything over ten pounds and do not climb on anything

Watch the temperature of the bath and don't stay in there too long. (20 minutes I mean it Roza)

Call me if you need me. The doctor's number is number one on speed dial in the kitchen

Please do not do anything reckless and whatever you do DO NOT LEAVE THE WARDS!

I love you,

Dimitri

What the hell was that? He left me a list like I was some sort of moron who didn't know how to take care of myself. When I read the last line in all caps I was livid. How dare he hold me prisoner? I'd gotten a little worked up and ripped him a new one after reading it. I'd torn it to bits and thrown it in the trash after calling him every name in the book. The jerk had actually pulled it out and taped it back together and after he left I found it pinned to the refrigerator. If he were here I would have punched him. I knew he meant well and was just overly concerned for my safely and that of our child, but still, he was overdoing it and I was losing what little patience I had to begin with.

I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking my daily coffee ration and picking at some toast when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I called.

"Hey Little Dhampir, how are you and how is my Baby Dhampir?" Adrian asked coming over and placing his hand on my belly. I smiled up at him remembering how good and calm he was about everything the last time. I wondered if it was because he wasn't the biological father or if it was just in his nature not to overreact.

"We're fine," I told him. "Your aura tells me otherwise," he said pulling up a stool and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Really and what does it tell you oh mighty swami?"

"It tells me that Belikov finally got the smack down that's been brewing for weeks," he said with a smirk.

I sighed. "You're not wrong." I knew Dimitri wouldn't be happy that Adrian knew about the baby, but in my defense I hadn't told him. He had figured it out from observing my aura, but also because he recognized my symptoms and behavior from the last time. He'd also questioned me as to why Dimitri's aura looked like it would explode with happiness.

"He left you a list?" he asked as I pointed to the fridge. After reading it thoroughly he laughed and shook his head.

"The man is asking for trouble, but Little Dhampir, couldn't you just be a tad bit nicer to the man? He's just worried. His aura has shown he's a nervous wreck lately. It's all happiness and love and then he looks at you and it's utter chaos going on up there," he said pointing to his head.

"I know," I groaned laying my head on the counter. I'm trying to be patient with him, but that list was just a little too much for me to handle. Look inside the fridge," I told him.

He opened the door and took a good look inside before busting into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

"He really did that?"

"He must have been up all night," I told him as we both gaped at the stacks of Tupperware containers filled with different foods. They were labeled by the day and time I was supposed to eat them. He'd even color coordinated them with post its.

"Where was he when I was looking to hire a chef?" Adrian cackled slapping his knee.

"It's not funny," I cried trying to sound serious. "He's being way too overprotective. If I have to live like this for the next eight months, he's going to end up dead," I ranted.

"I'll talk to him if you want," he offered.

"No! You're not supposed to know anything yet. You'd better act surprised when we make the announcement or I'll have to kill you," I threatened.

"He'd better act surprised about what?" Lissa asked entering the kitchen.

"Oh great," I moaned.

"What'd I say?" she asked confusedly.

"You might as well tell her. She's going to find out anyways. It's not like it's easy to miss," Adrian whispered.

"I guess you're right. Okay Liss I am going to tell you, but you can't tell anyone." I made her promise.

"I promise," she said. I could feel that she was not expecting what I was about to say.

"I'm pregnant," I blurted out.

"Oh my God!" she squealed jumping up and down. "That's really good news Rose." She hugged me tightly.

"Wait why can't I tell anyone? Does Dimitri know?"

"Of course he does. He'd be terribly upset if I told you before him."

"Then why?"

"We just wanted to keep it to ourselves until after our twelve week checkup," I explained.

"Oh, that's a good idea, but Rose, I'm so happy you told me. I can't wait to be an aunt again."

"I know I know. Keep it on the down low until we make the announcement. He'll really kill me if he finds out both of you know," I said shaking my head.

"Nah, he won't kill you," Adrian said smugly.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because it's not on his list of acceptable activities," he guffawed.

"What list?" Lissa asked. She hated not being in on inside jokes. Adrian and I pointed to the fridge neither of us being able to form a coherent sentence we were laughing so hard.

Lissa gasped. "He really wrote that?" I nodded.

"And you let him live?" she asked shocked.

"For now."

Okay I am really unsure about this chapter. I am planning on doing a DPOV and an RPOV for each month of her pregnancy. Sometimes they will be separate chapters sometimes they will be combined like this one. I did that because it was the intro and I'm not really sure if it's going to work. Let me know what you think? Dimitri is a little clueless and is going to drive Rose quite insane. Who wants to read more?