DPOV
I was walking back into the academy with Tasha Ozera. It was Roza's trial today and I knew she'd excell. I left a month after the attack so Roza could focus solely on getting to graduation. That was four months ago. I knew she was strong but I knew she was heartbroken when I left. I had warned her I'd come back to her at graduation but didn't know what to expect. What awaited me was totally unexpected.
I watched her go through her trial and was amazed by how she'd grown. I was her last test. If she was as good as she could be, if I'd trained her effectively, she wouldn't hesitate. I stepped out onto the field just as she thought she was supposed to be done. She caught one look at me and ran. She didn't attack, she didn't freeze, she ran. Why? I had noticed she was protecting her abdomen more than her head but why? I hadn't got a clear enough view of her to see. I went through my lessons and rules with her in my head after walking off field trying to think why she'd run. It wasn't something I'd taught her, was it? My first lesson, my first rule had been 'never hesitate'. She had just, in a way, broken it. Why? What was that woman thinking?
A little something was telling me I was missing something. The key was in an element of training that had become so mundane it seemed insignificant. So when had I taught her to run? She was excellent. She wouldn't need to run from her enemy. Ever. The more I thought about it the more confused I got. Until I hit the track. Shit! It was obvious. I had told her if she was outnumbered, outclassed, out-skilled or weaponless to run. It was a lesson that had become just a general part of fitness and endurance. She'd succeeded and exceeded expectations in Spokane and more importantly the attack. She would never need to run, so why from me? Surely she could whip my ass within seconds now.
I had been musing for over an hour now and decided to head to Rose's dorm. I knew something was up. But she needed time to sort things out if she'd run out of the most important test of her life. I approached her door and heard Lissa was with her. I did something I almost never do, I eavesdropped.
"He saw, I froze and ran."
"You didn't freeze Rose. You simply ran."
"I felt it. I froze for a fraction of a second- enough that if he'd actually been Strigoi would have gotten me killed, or worse. So I ran. I broke rule number 2: 'never hesitate'. I had to run. Rule number 1: 'if you're outnumbered, outclassed, out-skilled or weaponless what do you do? You run'. It was that simple. I couldn't protect her from a test from him. It just wasn't safe. She was essentially all of the above against him and therefore so was I. Run was the only option I had."
"She, Rose?"
"I found out just before trials. And did you get anything other than 'you're getting a niece' out of that?!" She laughed.
"I heard everything else too Rose. I think I get it. The question is 'what is he going to think?'"
"I really don't know Liss. I mean, let's face it, I'm a Royal dhampir Princess of a dying line who is shadow-kissed and bound to her best-friend-turned-sister as well as pregnant with her old mentor's baby. What would you think?" Okay, what the hell?!
"Hmm. You've got a point there. Next question. Do you still love him?"
"Yes. I do. He's my other half and the last four months have been hell. So many changes and the one person my heart and soul needed by my side was off guarding your boyfriend's aunt."
"I know Rose, I know." Lissa sighed. This had clearly been a well discussed topic and repeated conversation. I guess it was either my turn to leave or knock. I did the latter. God I hope this doesn't blow up in my face. Lissa answered the door. "Guardian Belikov." she simply greeted, voice perfectly smooth and emotionless. Uh oh. What had gone down in the last four months?
"Let him in Liss. I knew it was only a matter of time before he'd show up." My beautiful angel's voice came from her bed. Lissa let me in. Something told me Lissa had said something through the bond but the pair didn't give anything away.
"Ro-" I didn't know what she was ok with me calling her. I looked over to her on the bed. She had her legs kinda crossed but a bump, that could only belong to a five month pregnant woman, was hindering it. It actually seemed to increase her beauty immeasurably. I froze at the sight and, when the beauty hit, one of my rare smiles pulled across my face. I knew she was probably expecting a lecture or disapproval or anything other than the smile and positivity that a knew I was radiating. I would have instinctively known this child was ours without the eavesdropping.
"See something you like comrade?" She smirked as she copied the time I caught her in the lounge with Jesse Zeklos. "Oh and it's Roza to you, my love." My smile widened further if it was even possible.
"Roza," I sighed happily. "I see a little someone I like. A big someone too miss moo."
"Are you ever going to get your sorry ass over here Daddy" she grinned mischievously. That made it hit home and shot me into action. I had my arms around my family in milliseconds, kissing Roza's cheek and the bump that was to be my daughter. Roza actually giggled.
"I think I'll leave you two to have some family time." Lissa quietly interrupted us.
"Oh no you don't Liss. Ung-unh. Nope. I can get family time later. Try the rest of forever later. We have news to break." Rose said half seriously half teasingly.
"Damn you Rose!" Lissa mocked offence.
"Okay. What's going on you two?" I asked with Roza still in my arms. I had a feeling I knew.
"Uhh. How does one start this conversation. Any ideas Liss?"
"Just spit it out Rose!"
"Uhh. Well you see comrade. Well.." She couldn't get it out.
"Oh for heavens sake Rose. Give me minute."
She came out of the bathroom a minute later with the Dragomir coronation tiara.
"Ohh no Liss! You wouldn't! Not like this!" Rose paled, she actually looked scared of the tiara.
"Rose. You wouldn't just spit it out." Liss placed the tiara on Rose's head. It sat perfectly and made her 'exotic desert Princess' features come to life. She was the Dragomir Princess and looked every bit the part. (Well, except the green Dragomir eyes.)
"Oh Roza, you are stunning." I was gobsmacked.
"What! No 'what on earth'? Or 'how is this possible'?"
"Oh shut up Princess!" I said playfully and leaned in and kissed her. She didn't hesitate in responding. Surprisingly it was our daughter that separated us by a kick.
"Dimitri, what the hell!" She playfully smacked me.
"Love you too Roza. Seriously though, I don't need to know how. Just that." I smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Lissa can you please get this tiara off of me? Before Dimitri here breaks it. Oh, and I guess you can go." Lissa did as asked and left. Likely getting that Rose and I were about to get heated. I made sure things didn't go too far. This time it wasn't so much about avoiding getting caught, rather it was about making sure our little girl was safe.
"I love you Roza ."
"I love you too Dimitri, so much." God, I didn't know which I loved coming out of her mouth more, 'comrade' or 'Dimitri'. The things this woman always did to me.
"So milaya. Are you graduating?"
"Yup. As Guardian Princess Rosemarie Dragomir. I will get promised but have my own fleet of guardians. Our little girl will also have her own fleet from the second she's born."
"Her own fleet?"
"Tatiana's orders."
"Will she be a Dragomir?"
"She's not allowed not to be- again Tatiana's orders."
"Wow."
"Understatement." Rose said as there was a knock on her door. "It's not Lissa, I know that much- she's with firefly." She thought a bit more "Eddie's with them too, Tasha should be but isn't".
"Not her. Not now" I groaned. She just had to ruin this moment. I wanted to say 'run' but that was a tad hard for obvious reasons. "I'll get it." I kissed her forehead and turned to open the door. "Can I help you?" I asked Tasha after opening the door a crack. But not enough to show Rose.
"What are you doing here Dimka?!" She demanded. Like she didn't know. She knew the deal was only guarding her and only until Rose graduated. I said as much.
"Don't act like you've forgotten the arrangement- only guarding and only until graduation."
"You know she's a pregnant, lying little bloodwhore right?" Oh no! She did not just say that about my Roza!
"She's not a bloodwhore and she's not lying and she most certainly isn't little." I said all too calmly.
"I could have you tried for treason for that Lady Ozera," Roza called from the bed.
"Yeah right!" Oh Tasha was asking for it. I was going to settle Roza before it became an issue.
"Roza. Think of our daughter." I smiled and understanding immediately clicked. She calmed. "Tasha. I suggest you leave. Now."
"Your daughter?" It was an accusation really. Aimed at degrading Rose, and me.
"Yes. Mine. Now leave. If you cause a miscarriage we'll have you done for royal manslaughter. Go." I hoped she'd listen because I really would make good on that threat. She was going to ignore it so I shut the door and locked it, returning to the bed and my family. "Come on let's get you ready for graduation." I smiled and kissed her cheek and bump. I whispered 'I love you my sweet daughter. And your mother' in Russian to the bump.
"I understood that Dimitri!" She giggled.
"What!" I was stunned. She knew Russian?
"You just said 'I love you my sweet daughter. And your mother'. We love you too." She grinned. The translation was perfect.
"How? Since when?" I really couldn't string a sentence together yet. Even one in my mother tongue was too hard.
"Since I have to know Russian, Romanian and English as a royal. I've had a crash course in both over the last few months."
"Wow." Her knowing Russian was kinda sexy. Knowing, was about to be upstaged by speaking.
"I love you Dimitri" she said in Russian and I swear my whole world stopped. If her voice was angelic to my ears in English then Russian turned her into my goddess. I needed a cold shower- she was pregnant for heavens sake!
"You've got a little problem to take care of comrade!" She smirked at the bulge in my pants. "Here" she pulled me to the bathroom.
RPOV
I was glad my Russian had had such an effect on him. "You've got a little problem to take care of comrade!" I smirked at the bulge in his pants. It was a problem I was going to take care of for him. "Here" I pulled him to the bathroom, locking the door. I undid his trousers and pulled them down to his ankles. Quickly following with his boxers. His member was pulsing. I sat on the floor with him against the door. I teased him a little. Gripping, touching, stroking, rubbing and squeezing his member and surrounding sensitive parts. I then slid him into my mouth and teased with my tongue. Hitting all the sensitive areas perfectly making him harden more and groan "Roza". I kept playing until I could feel he was on the edge of release, until he moaned "Roza, I'm about to cum". I started thrusting my mouth around his member and stroked all the surrounding sensitive areas. He was over the edge when I squeezed his butt. His release flooded into me and I swallowed. He moaned, "God, Roza!You are amazing".
"Can it, comrade!" I laughed "I have a graduation to get ready for".
"You didn't have to do that you know. A cold shower would have sufficed."
"Not nearly as fun!" I said as he helped me up. "Plus the last time we were anywhere near this close was five months ago. Far too long to go without!"
"Not helping Princess!" He teased.
"Karma's a bitch."
"You don't say!"
DPOV
Did my pregnant woman really just do that? I couldn't believe it. A cold shower would have sufficed but she was right, as always, it wouldn't have been near as much fun. She was also right, five months was far too long to go without close contact between the two of us.
She'd allowed me to slide back into her life as if I'd never left. The problem was I knew she'd been through hell while I was away. She was graduating today and being promised, but as Princess would always be guarded. She'd appeared to have come to terms with it and I wasn't going to rock the boat.
She joined me when she had received her promise mark, breaking from her group and sitting on my lap. My arms instinctively went around her waist coming to rest on her bump. Her hands went over mine. She laid back into my chest and my chin found its place on her right collarbone. People stared but the ceremony continued. She was a promised, pregnant Princess- the tiara proved it. She was graduated and above the rules. She certainly wasn't going to be standing for another three or more hours. I certainly wasn't expecting what came out of her pocket minutes after all eyes returned to the stage.
It was a letter. On fancy paper. It was reasonably sized as her emerald green graduation dress had practically sized pockets. The hand writing was fancy and regal. I would have said the wording was too- but it was as blunt yet beautiful as Roza. "I'm your assignment as of now." Signed with a smiley face and hugs and kisses X's and O's. I pecked her cheek and rubbed our daughter's bump to show I understood. She held back a contented sigh. Tasha was not going to be happy when she learned this.
Four hours later and I was proven right. Tasha had had a fit when she found out I had immediately been assigned to Rose. Rose had me in every way Tasha wanted but would never get. I could see it was driving her insane. Rose saw it too but let me deal with it. She knew stressing over it was dangerous.