This was intended for the Mother's Day Collaboration, but I was hospitalized again and missed the chance to complete it and get it turned in. It isn't quite finished but it's at a good stopping point. As for my health, I have my good days, but I try to spend those with my children. I am able to swallow food a little easier now and am capable of walking about 4-5 feet forward unassisted. I am able to feed myself now too! It's been a long battle, but I am getting there. Thank you everyone for your kindness, it has really meant a lot to me.

The Luncheon

By Rea Lynne

Mother's Day Collaboration 2017 (At least it was supposed to have been anyhow)

We had extended our dining table into the living room of our apartment in order to accommodate everyone. That only sufficed to make the couches looked cramped, so I had to get Dimitri to help me rearrange them to all for some space to walk around in. It seemed like I would never get the apartment in shape for the Mother's Day Luncheon that Dimitri and I were hosting.

I knew he was nearly fed up with my manic behavior. I tried to suppress as much of it as I could to save him from worrying that perhaps I had finally fell of the deep end, but my need for this year's lunch to be perfect overrode my good senses.

"It's just dinner with our family, Roza. Why are you so nervous?" Dimitri asked me as I fiddled with the place settings on the table. "We do this every year and you have never been so keyed up."

"I want this one to be special. It's the fifth one we have done. It should be perfect. I want it to be perfect, Comrade." I babbled on as I squinted at the place setting in front of me one last time. I deemed it to be completely straight and moved on the next one.

I felt Dimitri's arms wrap around my waist as he hugged me against his chest. "Everything is perfect, Milaya. I promise. Come, let's get ourselves ready." He said into my hair as he pulled me away from the table. I smiled up at him and followed as he led into the bedroom.

At the sight of our clothes laid out on the bed, he quirked a single eyebrow in my direction and I shrugged a single shoulder in return. Even after the ten years we had known one another, I had never learned to do the eyebrow trick.

Before he could say anything though, there was a knock on the door. "Oh no, someone came early!" I worried aloud.

"Not really. You told them noon and it's ten minutes till. I'll get the door, Roza. You get ready." Dimitri said with a gentle kiss to my cheek. He walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. I was secretly happy with the interruption and the ability to have a few moments alone to steady my nerves. I knew it was out of character for me, but I wanted this Mother's Day to be extra special.

It was a tradition we started five years ago, after the death of Babushka. It had hit Dimitri and his family really hard and in a way had made me appreciate having my own mother in my life even more. Instead of having to split years or the day between our two families, we had decided that it would be easier for everyone to join us at court. Although Yeva could be annoying with her evasive warnings, she had come to mean a great deal to me. We had grown even closer the last year of her life after I had "made an honest man of her grandson" as she had said six years ago.

Eyeing the pretty green dress I had laid upon the bed, I forced my thoughts away before they could depress me and slipped out of my tank top and sweats. I could hear the deep rumble of Dimitri's voice as he talked to whoever had arrived. I couldn't make out the words, and curiosity was beginning to win.

I quickly slipped into the dress and released the clip holding my hair off my neck. My hair fell into relaxed curls around my face and with just a few combs of my fingers laid beautifully over my shoulders. 'Just the way Comrade likes it,' I thought as I picked up my favorite lip gloss and applied it quickly.

Taking a steadying breath, I turned to see who had arrived. The bedroom door opened before I could reach it and Dimitri slipped inside. His eyes slowly raked over my body before his expression broke into one of approval.

"I don't think I have ever seen you look so beautiful, Roza." He whispered as he drew closer to me. His hand cupped my cheek as he leaned down to place a wantonly kiss upon my lips. The fingertips of his other hand traced up my spine, causing goose pimples to prickle my skin.

"You think it is okay?" I asked as I pulled away for a much needed breath.

"I think I forgot how lovely you look in a dress. Especially one that makes these," he said as he slowly dragged a finger over the cleavage I was showing, "look so lovely." I Swallowed thickly as I tried to stave off the effect his touch always had on me.

"I-I guess I better go keep our company occupied so you can get ready." I stammered as I tried to side step around his towering form. If I stayed much longer, my dress would be nothing more than a wrinkled mess in the floor.

Dimitri caught my waist and gave me one last promising kiss before releasing me and beginning to undress. I stood semi-frozen as I watched the muscles in his shoulders and back ripple with his movements. "Your parents are preparing a glass of wine for each of us while we wait for my family to arrive." Dimitri chuckled as he caught me staring. His words brought me out of my stupor and I slipped out the door to greet my parents.

"Mom, Baba, hello!" I exclaimed as I hugged them both in turn.

"You look lovely, Rose." My mother commented as we separated and I led her to one of the sofas. "I see you went all out for us this year. The place looks very pretty."

"Thank you. I love your dress as well." I said taking a glass of wine from my father. "If you will excuse me, I am going to go check on dinner. I would hate for Dimitri's hard work to turn into ashes on my watch." I lightly laughed.

Leaving them to make themselves comfortable on the couch, I entered the small kitchen and began to remove the roasted duck and veggies from the warmer. I was beginning to set everything on the table when I heard loud laughter fill the hallway outside. I smiled as I recognized Vika's voice, and set the platter of veggies down just as someone knocked on the door.

Baba waived me off as he stood and headed for the door, so I went back into the kitchen to gather the rest of the dishes of food. Olena soon joined me in the kitchen hugging me close. "You look beautiful Roza. Thank you for having us all again today."

"It's always a pleasure, Olena. I wish we could see each other more often." I smiled at my mother in law.

"Where is my son hiding away at?" she chuckled as she grabbed a dish and followed me to the table.

"I'm here, Mama. Sorry I couldn't greet you at the door. I had to change into something more appropriate than my guardian uniform before Roza beheaded me." He laughed as his arms devoured Olena into a giant hug.

"Watch the food." I shouted in laughter as I quickly rescued the bowl of mashed potatoes from Olena's hands.

"My son nearly squeezes the life out of me, and my daughter only cares about the food I am holding." Olena giggled as she swatted Dimitri away.

"That's my Roza." Dimitri said as his eyes fell on me, his happiness shining within them. He turned to grab the covered plate left on the counter.

"That one stays behind for now. It's dessert." I told him. "Lunch is ready if everyone is ready to eat." I called out to the family that now filled our small living room. One by one they came to the table, hugging and bidding hellos.

Lunch was a noisy affair. Everyone talking over one another in good fun and laughter surrounded us more times than I could count. Noticing that everyone had slowed their eating or had stopped all together, I leaned over to Dimitri. "Can you go get dessert, please, but leave the cover on? It's a surprise." I whispered.

"Of course, Milaya," he murmured as he rose from his seat. "I think it's about time we find out what Rose has been hiding in this thing." He told everyone as he set the covered plate down on the table.

I stood up and stepped back from the table. "Mom, Olena, come over here beside Dimitri." I said as I waived them around. "I want the three of you to reveal what's inside."

My mother gave me a skeptical look, but complied with my wishes. Olena laughed and followed suit. "It's not going to bite back is it?" she laughed as she came to stand next to Dimitri. I scoffed at her and motioned for Dimitri to uncover the cake hidden within.

"Go ahead. Hurry before I burst." I told them as I sucked in a deep breath. Dimitri uncovered the cake. "Go on, read it!" I told them. Everyone's eyes left me and fell on the double chocolate cake.

Happy Mother's Day

Janine, Olena, Sonja,

Karolina, Vika.

And Rose!

"Roza, why is your name on this cake?" Dimitri asked me. His eyes held mine as confusion clouded his face. I simply lifted the strip of black and white images that rested in my hand, the motion pulling his gaze to them.

"We're going to be parents, Comrade." I whispered as understanding fell upon everyone but him.

"How? When? Roza, are you sure?" He asked quietly as cheers broke out around the table.

"Dimitri!" His mother admonished him, as she pulled me into a hug. "I think you know the how and the pictures are pretty much proof that she is sure."

"I took the vaccine just after Christmas. I was hoping for a Valentine's surprise, but it didn't work out." I told him, handing over the sonogram prints. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything, I wanted to surprise you."

"I'm going to be a grandmother?" My mother asked as she came to stand beside me. I shook my head in the affirmative, my eyes never leaving a stunned Dimitri. His gaze kept going between me and the pictures in his grasp.

"No wonder your boobs look better than ever!" Vika exclaimed as she too came around the table to hug me in congratulations. "You said it was because you were eating too many cupcakes and weren't getting to the gym enough."

"Viktoria, I raised you better!" Olena laughed as she swatted at her youngest daughter in laughter.

"Comrade?" I questioned as fear and uncertainty crept in. I waited for his reply, but his eyes seemed to have locked onto my lower stomach. "Dimitri?" I tried again. His eyes never wavered from their target. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I looked over to see my mother's worried gaze. I didn't realize I was shaking until Olena grasped my hands reassuringly in hers.

"Dimitri?" I asked again as tears began to fall down my face. His eyes moved to my chest as single drop fell and wet the fabric of my dress. His eyes slowly lifted upward in search of the culprit. When he found the tears belonged to me, his expression grew worried.

My father chose that time to extend his congratulations. "Well Son, you're about to be a proud papa!" He boomed as he not so gently slapped Dimitri on the back. Complete understanding finally overtook Dimitri and in two large steps he had me wrapped in his arms.

"Oh, Roza, I'm going to be a papa," His voice whispered against my ear. I looked up and nodded, smiling hesitantly. "Milaya, nothing in this world could make me happier at this moment." He assured me, his thumb stroking my jaw. I felt his own tears mingle with mine as he placed a gently kiss against my lips.

"A papa." He said in wonderment as he pulled away, his hand coming to rest against my lower stomach as a smile made its way across his face.

"It's going to be a girl." I whispered. "I found out a few days after Valentine's day."

"You said you had the flu." Dimitri's face grew serious.

"I thought it was, but then well, I never got my friendly visit. I was going to tell you sooner, but I wanted to wait until I knew I was out of the danger zone."

"Danger zone, Roza, you've been training. You've been Guarding Lissa! That's dangerous in your condition."

"Hey, there's a reason Lissa is refusing to leave the safety of Court, you know."

"I thought she was the pregnant one, though." Dimitri said in exasperation.

"Well, she is." I said looking at him innocently.

"Trust me, I know." He smirked, shaking his head. "So a little Roza," he asked.

"Well I was thinking more along the lines of Ivana Yeva Belikova. I know that middle names are traditionally a form of the father's first name in Russia, but I would like to honor both Ivan and Babushka."

"I think it's beautiful." My mother said.

"Anything you want, Roza." Dimitri beamed another smile in my direction. "Anything that makes you happy, Milaya, you're making me a papa after all."

"I didn't do it alone, Comrade." I whispered to him, giving him a suggestive smile. Dimitri shook his head as he chuckled and released me towards the waiting arms of his sisters.

"I understand now why your glass of wine was secretly poured down the sink." My father said when he finally batted away the 'clucking hens' to hug me.

"I didn't think you saw that, Old Man." I told him.

"I see everything, Rosemarie." He deadpanned as his smile doubled in size. "Come, lets rest on the couch away from all this hubbub." He suggested as he led me to the sofa, Dimitri not far behind. I settled on the couch between the two favorite men in my life and watched as everyone passed the sonogram pictures around.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in treasured happiness as I snuggled deep into Dimitri's arms and watched our family 'ohh and ahh' over my little peanut's first pictures. It didn't take long before I began yawning and like magic, the apartment began to slowly empty until only Dimitri and I were left alone in the small space.

"Are you terribly upset with me?" I asked Dimitri between yawns.

"Not at all Roza, I wish you would have told me sooner, but I am honestly too thrilled to care about that now." He told me as he pulled me onto his lap, kissing my temple.

"Good. I always want to make you happy." I told him as I rested my head back against his shoulder.

"There isn't a day you don't."

"Now, that, Comrade is not true." I giggled tiredly.

"Even when you test my limits, you still make me the happiest man alive."

"Would you be upset if I told you I was too exhausted for any bedroom action tonight?"

"Of course not, Milaya, you're nearly asleep as it is. I wasn't expecting much after the first few yawns anyhow." His hand had found its way to my lower stomach and was gently cradling the minute little bump that had begun to grow noticeable just days before. "I should have known that this was more than just a few cupcakes too many."

"I did go through a cupcake phase though." I sighed.

"Something else that should have alerted me that something was different. I just thought you had finally tired of chocolate donuts."

"Uh, please don't even mention them to me." I felt Dimitri's chest rumble in silent laughter. "Just the thought makes my stomach want to convulse.

"I never heard or saw you sick after your 'flu'" Dimitri noted.

"No, I've been nauseated from time to time, but only sick for that week or so." I said, grateful that I had been blessed with very little morning sickness.

"You drank wine at Eddie and Mia's Spring Equinox party." Dimitri said in concern.

"Trick of the eye, Comrade, I replaced it with sparkling white grape juice when no one was looking." I said between another set of yawns.

"No wonder Lissa had two bottles. I thought she was just having another craving. Speaking of, have you had many?"

"Not really, just the cupcakes, and a few times, blackberries. Lissa keeps them stocked for me."

"I'll pick some up to keep here after my shift tomorrow." He promised as my eyes drifted close with an oncoming yawn. "If you think of anything else you want or need, just leave me a message and I will pick it up after my shift also."

"I will. I love you, Comrade, always." I told him as I relaxed further into his strong arms, allowing his warmth to lull me even closer to the sleep I craved.

"I love you to, Roza. Never forget, you are my life now and always."

"And the little peanut." I sighed as my hand fell over his that still rested against my stomach and the miracle that was held within.

"Yes, you both are my everything." I heard him agree as I once more began to drift off.

I barley registered Dimitri lifting me in his arms and carrying me to our room and the soft kisses along my jaw and lips he supplied. I tried to pry my eyes open and help with the removal of my clothing and to return his loving caresses, but it was a hopeless battle. Instead, I found myself cocooned in his arms as he placed us both in bed, pulling the coverings over us. "You've made my every dream come true today, Milaya." I heard just before sleep fell over me and I was lost in a world of dreams of our future to come.