It was the dead of night, and Vlad sat before the fireplace, thoughtfully contemplating his following action. The news of Angelina's pregnancy was a shock, but he eventually accepted the situation. Vlad knew he shouldn't have been too surprised, especially since he and Angelina had been intimate. "I should have been careful..."

He wondered if Angelina eventually woke up and, if she did, found out the news of her pregnancy. Still, Vlad told his brother that he didn't want to see Angelina; it would be too painful for him. 

There was a knock on the door, and Vlad sat upright in his chair. He didn't respond, and there was another knock when he knew: "Angelina, go to sleep."

The other side of the door was momentarily silent. "Vlad, I want to talk to you, and I'm not leaving until you talk to me."

Vlad bit his lower lip. "Didn't my brother tell you that I do not wish to be visited?"

"Didn't you realize I don't do well with your orders? Now act like an adult and speak with me, Vlad. You and I will eventually have to talk about this, and I want to do so, now." Vlad sat silently while looking at the fire, knowing that Angelina made a point. Still, he had a hunch about what she would ask, but he didn't have the motivation or strength to tell her. The Voivode knew that Angelina wouldn't be happy with his plan. He heard the door knob moving, but it was locked. 

The plan was that Vlad would wait until Angelina left and hoped she would get the idea.

He was wrong.

"Vlad!" *Knock* "Vlad!" *Knock* "Vlad!" *Knock* "Vlad!" *Knock* "VLLLLLAAAADDDDD!!" *KNOCK* The Voivode tried hard to ignore Angelina as he tried covering his ears and refused to make a sound. The knocking eventually stopped, and Vlad thought that Angelina had given up. He decided to go to bed, but then he heard a thump on the other side and heard Angelina singing, 

"I remember when

I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions have an echo in so much space

And when you're out there without care
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much, hm

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly

Angelina was singing; Vlad rolled his eyes. He refused to give in as he went to his bed.

"And I hope that you are having the time of your life

But think twice, that's my only advice, mm

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you

Who do you think you are?

Ha-ha-ha, bless your soul

You really think you're in control, well

I think you're crazy

I think you're crazy

I think you're crazy

Just like me"

The song was strange to him, and he never heard such words used before, but then again, Angelina was from the future. It was beyond him. Vlad used his pillow to cover his ears.

"My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on the limb

And all I remember is thinking "I want to be like them"

Ever since I was little

Ever since I was little, it looked like fun

And it's no coincidence I've come

And I can die when I'm done

But maybe I'm crazy

Maybe you're crazy

Maybe we're crazy

Probably"

Angelina finished the song by Gnarles Barkley. Vlad was silent and refused to give in and open the door. The silence was long, and Vlad slowly lifted the pillow from his head, but then...

"One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do

Two can be as bad as one, its the loneliest number since the number one

No is the saddest experience you'll ever know

Yes is the saddest experience you'll ever know

Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever know

One is the loneliest number even worst then two

Yeah"

Vlad's eyes widened in annoyance. Angelina continued singing and wondered when Angelina was going to get tired. 

"If you think I will get tired, you have another thing coming, Vlad! I am not moving until you open the door! I know a lot of songs and I will sing all night if I have to!" Angelina continued to sing, but Vlad didn't budge. He tried to cover his ears to hear her singing, but Angelina sang louder while banging on the door. After the eighth song, Vlad had enough; Angelina wouldn't give up and sounded like she had a lot of energy to sing.  He exited his bed, unlocked the door, and opened the door.

Angelina wasn't standing; she sat on the floor with her back facing him. When the door was opened, she fell onto his legs. The young woman looked up and saw Vlad looking down at her, annoyed. She smiled while getting up. "I knew that you wouldn't be able to handle all my singing. Your temper will always be your downfall." Before Vlad could say anything, Angelina entered his room and stood at the center. Vlad looked up at the ceiling but couldn't help but chuckle at Angelina's insistence. Still, he became serious and turned to look at Angelina while closing the door behind him. 

The two silently stood while the fire crackles echoed in the room. Angelina put her hand over her stomach. "You know of the news."

"Yes."

"You walked away."

"Yes."

"Are you scared?" Angelina asked in a faint whisper. 

There was a slight pause, and with hesitation, Vlad answered, "Yes..."

"Me too, Vlad. I'm scared that you don't want this baby and-"

"Why would you think such a thing?"

Angelina looked away while still having her hands over her stomach. "Why, you ask? You walked away from me, from us. What did you think I felt when I was told that I was pregnant? Did you think I wanted to take in the news alone? Like always, Ioana always has to be there."

Vlad wanted to argue, but he knew that Angelina made valid points. He imagined that Angelina was shocked and terrified about hearing the news and he wasn't there by her side. "I'm...sorry. My mind was in disarray and I didn't know how to react. The truth is...I was..." The Voivode had difficulty admitting what he felt.

"Scared?" Angelina asked. Vlad nodded, and she slowly looked and walked toward him. She gently touched his face. "It's typical feeling that way. I am also very terrified, Vlad. I still needed you by my side, Vlad. I understand you are not used to having people by your side but you stop the cycle you-"

"Angelina." Vlad gently grabbed her hands, putting them away from his face but still holding onto them. "I wasn't terrified of the fact of being a father. It is the fact that this child-"

"OUR child."

"Will have a father like me. A father that may not live to meet him. I fear that he will go through what I have as a child. Which is why...I asked my brother to take you to where you came from."

The young woman looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

Vlad let go of her hands and slowly walked before the fireplace; his back was turned to her. "When we first met, you mentioned arriving here through the Hoia-Baciu Forest. That forest has a dark legend; not many would venture there, not even me. I have thought about this and I asked my brother to take you there. Where I hope you may return to your time."

Angelina's eyes widened in horror; Vlad wanted to send her away. "You want to...send me away? What about...our child?"

"You will take our child to your time. I do not wish him to live and grow up in this era. I have seen the wonders of your time and the tranquility and peace."

"Vlad, if I take our child to my time, he or she will wonder who their father is. What shall I tell him or her? Oh, your father is from the 15th century, when I unlawfully walked into the Hoia-Baciu Forest that made me time travel!? Vlad, our baby deserves to know who their father is!" Angelina stomped her foot. "I have always told you that you can bring peace back between you and the Sultan! The future can still be as it is if you bring peace!"

"Even if I tried to make peace, how will I know if the peace will last? I will I know that the Sultan's son will ensure it? How will I know that there isn't another contender who will try to kill me or our child for the throne? Power corrupts. I should know since my family never knew peace. That is why men in my family do not live long." Vlad looked deep into the fire. "I have a feeling that our child will be a boy. It has always been so."

The urge to cry was strong, but Angelina refused to do so. "You want me to raise our child alone!? It isn't easy to do that, especially during my time! Children without fathers grow up with complicated lives! Vlad, I can't do this alone! Y-You can come with me!" She saw Vlad flinch but continued, "Vlad, we can leave this time! You can live a happy life and-"

"It is not possible. If I disappear, then I imagine that history may rewrite itself, and we may not know if there will be consequences."

"Well, I got impregnated by a man from the past. How will we know if I will be able to go back to where I am pregnant with a child whose parents are from different eras?" Both were silent, and Angelina felt nauseated again; she could no longer argue. "I will leave, but I will let you know now that I will not leave this time without you. Good night." Angelina walked out of the room, leaving Vlad alone. 

The Voivode heard Angelina coughing, and he eventually sat back down.  He knew that Angelina would not be happy with his decision. Still, she wanted him to go to her time, but he didn't want to abandon his people, home, or fate. If Vlad left, his brother would take the throne, being Mehmed II's lapdog. History would change for the worse; Vlad would be known as a coward. It was something he didn't want. He knew he had to get Angelina and their child away before the war.