FAMILY
A/N: I must be on some fanfiction high because I have had great creative flow... Anyway, new stories is always a good thing...
Galina was sat in the corner, shedding tears but also crying out to the Lord in helplessness. It was the first time I had ever seen our cook in such a state. Of course, killing live chickens was no problem but when it came to a woman in labor, she would hide under the table.
Mama was already in the room, holding Katerina's hand but even I could read into the helplessness she unvoiced. Opposite her side was Ilia, who would be helping in bringing the new life into our family. She and her family were the only ones within the village that had not turned their backs onto us for the 'shame' that they insisted my sister had cursed us with.
Which left me, running into the house while trying not to spill the water in the bucket. The door had been left open after my departure so all I had to do was kick the bedroom one open.
There lay my sister, beads of sweat dampening the sheets which she fisted. The other hand was crushing mama's who remained brave and bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying out in agony.
"Вие сте се върнали" she heaved (You have returned) Вие се обърнахте към мен" (You have returned to me)
"Извинявам се" (I apologise) I rushed in, not taking time to take off my coat as I handed the water to Ilia. I was then quick in rushing by my sister's side, "Аз съм тук, сега сестра, моля ви, не се притеснявайте" (I'm here now sister, please do not worry yourself) I pleaded, resting my forehead onto hers and placing a soothing palm onto her stomach.
Soon, I would be blessed with a nephew or a niece. Mama and Papa would be given a grandchild and Katerina would have a baby. It was God's gift to our family.
"Ние трябва да го направим сега!" (We have to begin now) Ilia ordered. "Катерина, трябва да натиснете" (Katerina you have to push)
Unlike me, my sister, being the survivor that she lived to be, impressed me once again when she clenched her teeth. Her pebbled blue eyes ready to stare death in the face and laugh. I never understood where she got this strength from but I silently appraised her. Her strong mask firm in place as she nodded with a strange eagerness before her grunts and pleading cries cracked through the cold air.
"Боли. Боли толкова много" (It hurts. It hurts so much)
"Ами аз предполагам, че е нещо добро" (Well I suppose that is a good thing) I ignored everyone's horrified expression and focused on Katerina as I explained, "Бихме се притеснявайте, ако тя не боли. Сигурен съм, че е как тя е трябвало да бъде. (We would worry if it did not hurt. I am sure that is how it is supposed to be)
"Не ме карай да се усмихне точно сега" (Do not make me smile right now) she scolded me, trying to crease her forheead but through the distraction of the pain, she smiled.
"Това е добре да се усмихва в момент като този" (It is alright to smile at a time like this) she returned my smile and I continued to talk to help distract her, "Както е добре да крещи толкова силно, че ще се събуди Ivana" (Just like it is okay to scream so loud, you will wake Ivana)
Her laugh then transformed into a loud scream as she pushed once again, her hold on my hand tightening in the process so I shared in the release of pain. Knowing that I could not really compare my pain to hers, I stroked her hand with the one she had not broken and whispered, "Аз съм тук, Катерина" (I am here, Katerina) I soothed her sobs, "Няма да си тръгна вас или бебето" (I am not leaving you or the baby) I vowed, knowing that this had been a worry of hers. "Не сега" (Not now…) I looked at her and kissed her forehead, "а не някога" (...Not ever)
"обещание?" (Promise) she wanted assurance for the broken furture that she saw ahead, every single time that she looked into my father's darkened eyes.
I nodded, "обещание" (Promise)
-XxxxxX-
Once the screams of the baby drowned our murmurs, Katerina collapsed back onto the bed but then lifted her head with determination. I knew she wanted to see her child so I was quick to rush over and take the bundle from Illia's arms. Once she was in my arms, I smiled, feeling the tears brim in my eyes.
Wide midnight blue eyes stared up at me, curiously, probably trying to read me. Her full pink lips parted in a wonder and her puffy cheeks were flushed from her previous screaming. Soft brown curls covered her head. She squirmed a little but I maintained my secure hold on her.
Reaching down, I used my finger to touch her nose, "Това е едно момиче" (It is a girl) I cried out, allowing a stray tear of happiness to trail down my cheek.
"Едно момиче?" (A girl?) Katherine's smile trembled as the happiness overwhelmed her.
My steps were slow as I walked round the bed, still holding the beautiful bundle of joy in my arms, "Красив, момиченце" (A beautiful, baby girl) I grinned, slowly swaying with my steps to lull my niece to a peaceful slumber. It must have distressing enough for both of them through the labor.
"Едно момиче" (A girl) she finally allowed the tears to stream down her cheeks, "Да ме държи моето момиче" (Let me hold my girl) my sister reached out her arms, wanting to have her baby.
I walked towards her, rocking the sweet girl in my arms as I offered a secretive smirk, "Срамно е, тя има носа" (It is a shame she has your nose) I teased.
"Izabel!" she scolded but wore a small smile in understanding.
I smiled, "Аз съм само подигравателен" (I am only teasing)
"Нека да я прегърне" (Let me hold her) she grew serious once again and reached out for the baby again.
Just as I was about to hand over the baby, we were interrupted by the loud angered growl, "Какво си мислиш, че правиш" (What do you think you are doing?) he ordered. Before I could answer, Papa rushed over and snatched the baby away from my arms before I could stop him.
"Papa не!" (Papa no) my sister cried out in realization.
"Ти си срам това семейство и си мислиш, че ще я държи?" (You have shamed this family and you think you will keep it?) he laughed at her, mocking her with the darkened glare when passing the baby to the other man behind him.
Rushing over to him, I pleaded, "Моля Papa. Не прави това" (Please Papa. Do not do this) tears were now brimming in my eyes and blurring my vision.
"Дай ми бебето" (Give me my baby) Katerina now moved off the bed and began to get up, ignoring mama's attempts to push her back down.
"Papa не. Ние всички ще се грижат за" (Papa no. We will all look after her) again I pleaded, hoping that he would see sense but I doubted this when looking at the blinding rage stormed within his darkened glare.
He was so past reason that he pushed me against the wall, "Махай се от пътя ми" (Get out of my way) he growled.
"Papa не" (Papa no!) Katerina yelled, tears streaming down her face.
Feeling helpless, I turned back to mama hoping that she would have the answer, "Мамо, моля те. Моля, кажи му" (Mama, please. Please tell him) my plea was met with her looking to her feet, slumping her shoulders in defeat.
Her small fragile body trembling when she murmured, "Аз съм толкова много съжалявам, моите деца" (I am so very sorry my children) her own sobs shook her form.
"Не са дори да се опитвам" (You are not even trying) Katerina pushed away from her and then faced her before screaming, "Можете страхливец!" (You coward!) she screamed. She had always been the one with the fiery tongue within the family – never afraid to speak her mind.
"Как смееш да говори с майка си по такъв начин?" (How dare you speak to your mother in such a way?) papa grabbed Katerina by the hair and pulled her to look at him, "Ще напусна това място и никога не се върнете" (You shall leave this place and never return) he demanded.
I gasped, "Не!" (No)
He pushed me again when I tried to get him to leave her alone, "Махай се, преди да изгрее слънцето" (Be gone before the sun comes up) he roared.
Knowing that he was serious about this, I moved between them and met his glare, "Ти прогони една дъщеря, губите и двете" (You banish one daughter, you lose both) this made him lose his grip on my sister. Surprise settling in his widened eyes before he set his jaw.
"Izabela не" (Isabella no) mama breathed.
I glared at him, hoping that he would give in but what surprised me was his reply, "Прав ти път" (Good riddance)
Reaching up, I wiped away the tear from my cheek and nodded, "Хайде Катерина Ние ще тръгнем сега" (Come on Katerina. We shall leave now) reaching behind me, I took hold of Katerina's hand and gave it a small squeeze.
"Моите деца ..." (My children…)
Hearing mama speak, I spun around and ran to her feet, "Може да дойде с нас" (You could come with us) I held her hand and she covered it with her own.
She was still crying when shaking her head, "Не мога. Това е моят дом" (I cannot. This is my home)
"Mama моля" (Mama please) I tilted my head to the side.
She brought our hands to her lips and gave a small kiss to them, "Грижете се един от друг" (Take care of each other) she glanced at Katerina from over my shoulder. She then reached into her side pocket and pulled out the small brown satchel before placing it in my hands. "Обещай ми, че ще се грижи за всяка друга" (Promise me, you will look after each other) she added.
"Ние обещаваме" (We promise) I vowed, placing
When Katerina left the room to take our clothes, mama reached up to take off the silver necklace, "Обичам те толкова много" (I love you so much) she murmured when surprising me and clasping it around my neck.
Looking down, I grabbed the silver in my hand and smiled at the cold touch. "Обичам те мама" (I love you mama) looking back up to her with teary eyes, "Погрижете се за себе си" (Take care of yourself)
….And with that, Katerina had taken my hand and was now pulling me away, into an unknown world which would begin our adventure.
A/N: What do you think….? Please R and R
A/N: What do you think….? Please R and R