From Russia With Love
I always appreciate feedback...Good, bad or in between, I want to hear what you have to say. Enjoy & thanks for reading.
I own nothing but my ideas and words, everything else belongs to its rightful owner.
Special thanks to those who put my story on alert/favorite and to my reviewers. I'm still astonished at your enthusiam for my little story. I appreciate your support, just as much as I like hearing your take on the plot and any criticism or comment you might have.
setchan-1995 – Ah, ah sorry ( no really I'm not :D )...A little cliffhanger here and there keeps you on your toes. Thank you and welcome to the other side lol and thanks for making me notice the bold letters, I fixed it as soon as I got your review.
Leslie Atwood – Thanks! Damn, she's half Russian and you don't even get a little role play accent? That's just not right :)
FaberryBRA – :D :P I need a smiley to wave, that'd be useful ;)
Kara-24 – Really? Not even as an interjection? Well damn sorry, the mighty translator failed me lol. How would you say it? I might be stretching the truth sometimes, but I remember Anna Politkovskaia, Sergei Yushenkov, Galina Starovoytova or Alexander Litvinenko, to name only a few...I didn't quite get the next bit, do you mean that he won by eliminating the opponents? Sorry, fucking translator isn't cooperating properly. Anyways thank you, hope you'll like this one.
Zelda's Hero – I'd say I'm sorry for the cliffhanger but I'd be lying :) Yeah, many would share that opinion, though the intelligence of the man is to win public opinion in Russia and I'm afraid he's not going anywhere anytime soon...neither in real life nor in this story, sorry, he's already three moves ahead of us ;)
alana94xx = Thank you, I'm glad you still like it. Here you go, let me know what you think :)
Akasha Hallows28 – Thank you so much, hope you like this one.
BehindTheEyes = Wow, thank you for the compliments! You can't see it, but I was grinning like a lunatic after reading your review, hopefully I won't disappoint.
L.L.L – Ah ah, thanks! I love your enthusiasm :) and I hope it continues that way lol
hopelessromantic34 = Just as I hoped, thank you.
Jamie – Evil me wanted to do a little victory dance when I wrote it :) Thanks
vertigo123 – Ah ah, you might be surprised :) Thank you! I suppose it is true, mostly because Bella has enjoyed a lot more freedom than Rosalie did so far. And it's harder to be open minded and think positive when Putin's iron fist is holding everyone in a stranglehold. Tell me how you liked this chapter?
CatchingStar = I laughed out loud at your review, you're right, and it would be so much easier...but then I wouldn't have much of a story to tell lol
lurryforever = No one you know yet, but I promise some known characters are coming back next chapter and we will meet some familiar faces who have not popped up in this story yet. And I agree :D
niyadddyYep, I did it :) but in my defense this story was always gonna be more complicated (and did I mention it's far from over yet?lol). Do not worry, you're not cursed, or at least I had no hand in it, there is no first review curse attached to this story :D Thank you so much, I hope you like this chapter.
Piccolodian You might be surprised...Or not...I'm not saying anything, just keep reading :) And it actually applies to the second part of your review as well lol I don't wanna spoil your fun ;)
koolawantxox4u= Ah, ah, sorry? :)
Jay aka Jordan = Yes she does, and I gotta say I love the reactions I got from it...You know her better than that ;)
Lost Twilight = Thank you so much!This is gonna be a bumpy ride, so buckle up ;) Hopefully you'll like where this is going...
Guest = Thank you. Ah ah, I'm not saying anything yet, but you'll find out eventually, tell me what you think of this one?
tlc125= You're welcome. I know, I don't know why but I suppose it comes and goes and it serves my purpose so far- that's not to say that it won't change...Is it strange for you?lol Thank you so much, yes she has more at stakes than Bella, hence her timid rebuff. Perhaps not the side one might have thought, but hey, I'm not inside of your brain so maybe you'll anticipate her correct reactions...Read and find out ;) Thanks for taking the time to review, it is much appreciated!
[chapter 10 – American Bravery]
Four words and fourteen letters, that's all it took to throw Bella's world off its axis.
"What?"
"I have a daughter," Rosalie said timidly, looking into Bella's eyes with apprehension as she dropped her bombshell on the astounded American. No sound could be heard in the locker room whilst both women were staring at each other. One of them was shifting her stance from side to side, her anxiety obvious to Bella, still in shock over that little sentence.
"A-A daughter?" Bella croaked before clearing her throat meekly.
"Yes," the blond mumbled as her cheeks reddened and she watched the surprise register into the hockey player's face.
That was a game changer for Bella. Shit, she had expected the complications- even though she had perhaps underestimated the consequences it would have on the Russian's family- but a child changed everything. She wasn't even ready for that for fuck's sake. There was enough troubles for them already without a tiny little life hanging in the balance.
"Fuck," Bella whined out loud, her mind going a mile a minute as it tried to process the curve ball that had been thrown to her.
"Mne o-ochen' zhal'" Rosalie started to stutter, reaching out with her hand for the hockey player who started pacing in front of her.
"But...But-You're too young- how?" Bella cut her off, too unsettled to stall her own damn questions and wait for an explanation."I mean, obviously you're not- and I know how, scratch that-but...I didn't expect that." The hockey player's tone faltered, she took her head into her hands, too incredulous to even think about the implications of that impromptu revelation.
"I'm sorry," the Russian said softly, "I had to tell you. You-you need to understand that whatever I do will impact her life-"
"Shit, I get that, Princess. I do, I'm just...Fuck, you do know how to keep me on my toes," she lifted her head up and shook it a bit, back and forth, as if to clear the fog of frustration, anguish and helplessness threatening to overtake her mind.
"It's okay, eto," Rosalie sighed, "it- it was not a good idea anyway" she added with sadness heavy in her tone, her blue eyes turning stormy gray under the weight of the moment. "I understand," she stated with resignation. She turned her back on Bella and slowly backed away, taking a first step towards the door then another under the American's tormented eyes. Jolted into action at their own damn pattern about to repeat itself like an endless loop, she lunged for her arm, halting the other woman's escape.
"Whoa, back up a minute Princess," Bella reached for her hand and tugged her closer to her own body. "What can you understand when I haven't even processed that little bomb you just dropped on me?"
The Russian sighed, smiling as a tear escaped her eye again, her features contorted with that strange mix of melancholy and resignation the American was starting to get familiar with. She could have lamented over the fact that their several encounters had been full of those looks so far but that would have done nothing but make her mind spin further into depression. She felt inclined to be positive, an attitude their mother had drilled into her kids, maybe just as much as politeness. Even when she hit her rebellious teenage years, she was never that girl who spent her time deciding whether she would slit her wrists or not, a testimony to her good adjustment capacities.
There had to be something they could do, no matter how unsolvable their circumstances might seem. She could almost hear her mom's voice in her head, whispering her mantra to her- each problem has a solution, but as Bella watched Rosalie, she understood the other woman was expecting nothing but rejection from her. Truth be told, she wasn't prepared for something of that magnitude, and no she did not expect it, hence her astonishment- but was there ever a right moment for that kind of news? Her dating history was limited enough, of course she didn't have any chapter on people with kids.
The athlete never really paid them attention and perhaps she'd go as far as to say that it usually acted as some kind of deterrent effect on her. Not that she had a problem with them, she loved her nephews and her niece to death, but at the end of the day, she wasn't responsible for their well being or their education- and that was a heavy burden the American was not sure she'd be able to shoulder, yet. Thus she avoided any complication. That included entanglements with married people, and all the more so those who had kids. Yet not even that seemed enough to keep her away from the Russian player.
"Hey," she lifted Rosalie's chin with her fingers, wanting her complete attention. "I'll admit that you stunned me for a while there, but it doesn't change how I feel," Bella said with tenderness to the flustered blond in her arms, "you intrigue me," she added as the Russian snorted in answer.
Hell, what was a child when one considered the FSB, the Cold War and generations of anonymous people hating each other on the basic principle of prejudice?
She would need time to properly move on from that shock and what it meant, yet she was still not experiencing any change of heart, as crazy as it was even for her. The draw was still there, difficult circumstances be damned. And provided her little blond did not have anything else to spring on her, she would try to understand how a child could even figure out into their equation much later. She just couldn't deal with that now.
"So, you got a daughter, OK," Bella nodded, "I'll-I'm gonna need some time to process that-"
"I understand, I didn't...ya prosto- I don't even know what I want," the Russian grunted. "Ya prosto zaputalsya-"
"Net ponyat'" Bella interrupted, mustering her better Russian for the occasion, though she couldn't go past her first two words before the blond corrected her.
"Nepravil'no, eto 'ya ne ponimayu'" There was something to be said about the Slavic language, it was beautiful, rough and strong yet melodic, but it was getting her nowhere.
"Rosalie," she said in a stern tone, her patience wearing thin as the revelations of the day were starting to catch up with her. The Slavic language doing nothing to help clear her mind and think properly.
"I know" the Russian's voice took a particularly high pitch, her breathing impeding her speech ability, just not as much as her annoyance given their situation- still standing in the middle of an absurdly white, clinical locker room with a strange blend of scents, part sweat and part chemicals; not the ideal location for a heart to heart, most people would concede.
"I- eto razocharovaniye...um...frustrating?" She asked, meeting Bella's eyes with her own apprehensive, inquiring stare. "I want one thing when I know I should not," Rosalie whispered, her voice barely audible in the silence enveloping them.
Bella smiled to her, apparently at loss for words. They watched one another for a while, neither of them moving an inch nor speaking, the Russian seemed content to stay stoic, a picture of poise mirroring the great Slavic heroines of yesteryear.
"Maybe you should try again, just to make up your mind," Bella smirked at her blushing Russian, "or you could tell me about your kid?"
Rosalie frowned but that seemed to do the trick, the blond got some color back into her cheeks and relaxed into the foreigner's arm slowly as she told Bella all about her daughter.
"She's five years old soon, her name is Kira-"
"Ki-ra" Bella tried it out, repeating each syllable to the best of her ability. "Do you have a picture?"
Rosalie reached for the front pocket of her hoodie and took out her red phone. She swiped her thumbs over the screen a few times and shoved it under the American's nose, "here."
The hockey player watched with caution, almost afraid of what she would find on the screen. She had experienced that awkward moment one too many times with parents showing off pictures of their offspring, only to find strange faces staring back at her. She was lucky enough for once, she soon realized as she looked upon a cute little blond smiling from ear to ear. The child was a perfect mini me for the Russian beauty, complete with the blond ringlets framing an adorable, chubby face.
"Cute kid," she commented as she passed the phone back to the smiling Russian who nodded.
"I think so too but she is mine, I am...err...Na menya okazyvayut vliyaniye...I'm- um...prejudiced?"
"You're biased, you mean," Bella corrected.
"Da. Biased, that's the one I was looking for. Khorosho, now you know."
"And I'm still not running away. Though I should, fuck knows why-"
"Why?" She cut her off, wringing her hands together.
"How about a little truth, Princess?" Bella asked. "Here, I'll start. For some crazy reason, I'm attracted to you," Rosalie snorted but Bella continued, "and apparently you turn me into a blubbering fool, so yeah," she admitted, embarrassed at her own lack of finesse. "And your daughter? Surprisingly enough, not even that little bomb is doing anything to solve that. There. Now your turn," Bella smirked to the Russian, an arrogant façade to cover up her sweating palms and the thundering beat of her heart as she laid her heart bare for her Slavic temptress.
Rosalie turned her head away from her, and took a few steps back, refusing to look at her as she spoke. Compulsively clutching the sleeves of her team hoodie with her hands, she held her stiff posture for a while, pacing back and forth a few meters away from the American.
"You want truth?" She muttered under her breath, still struggling with her words it seemed, as she stumbled on the last syllable with her heavy Slavic accent. "You're the first woman I- I am attracted to- and I..." she sighed, rubbing her hands against her neck and shoulders to soothe the growing ache she felt deep in her bones.
"Why did you kiss me?"
"Because I wanted to," Rosalie turned to Bella at the question, smiling while she gave her simple answer, "I had to try."
"And?" The hockey player took a step towards the Russian, watching her expression falter and her cheeks redden as the embarrassment seemed to settle in her face. "What conclusion did you draw from your little experiment, lyubimaya?" She taunted Rosalie in her mother tongue, the Slavic word tinged with a deep voice as she stood closer to her feisty blond. The Russian gasped at the sensual tone and looked intently into her deep brown eyes, mesmerizing Bella with that heavy stare of hers- full of promises, confusion and still, that lingering sadness.
"And...Argh..." Rosalie frowned, "chert poberi," she swore, "I- I liked it," she admitted, avoiding her gaze to the side.
Bella smirked cockily to the other woman, laying her hand against her back as she dipped her head to brush her nose against Rosalie's. "I know you did, Princess," she winked and watched the deep red flare across the soft, alabaster skin.
"You did not," objected the Russian, though her eyes closing and the soft sigh she let out did nothing but encourage Bella to keep pushing.
"Look at me, Rosalie," she demanded and watched the Russian open her eyelids to fix her stare on her, baby blue eyes clouded with lust whilst trembling hands laid on Bella's arm. "I'm going to kiss you, so now would be a good time to stop me if that's not what you want," she said softly.
Rosalie sighed but never moved an inch, prompting Bella to move her lips against hers as she flicked her tongue to the Russian's plump bottom lip. Opening her mouth, she moaned as Bella took control over her tongue, passionately responding to the American's assault, her hands moving up to her shoulders- an unconscious move to mold her body to the hockey player, getting closer to the source of her conflicted emotions while their tongues battled together in a sensual dance.
Bella backed her towards the wall, pushing Rosalie's back against it as her fingers were skimming over her skin, barely touching her sides up and down with the tip of her digits, slowly trailing against the supple skin of her shoulder, her breast and her waist, then the curve of her hip. Rosalie shivered while the taller brunette spread her legs with her knee, entangling their bodies much closer in the heat of their desire. Bella pushed the Russian with her weight to feel and fight, to push and prod, she wanted to see that feisty little temper of hers come out and play.
She wasn't disappointed, for Rosalie was all that and more. She was an eager first timer apparently, if the sounds she made were any indication. The tiny moans blended together in Bella's mind, echoing every bit of lust she felt at that moment. Rosalie gripped her braided hair with her fingers and pulled on it, eliciting a groan from the hockey player at the rough play.
Never one to be outdone, Bella bit her bottom lip lightly, tugging on it and swiping her tongue against it to soothe the red, bruised mouth, releasing it with a thin sliver of saliva still hanging between them. She captured Rosalie's mouth again for a last quick kiss before letting her breathe, laying her forehead against the Russian's as they tried to rest their heaving chests. Both women were trying to catch their breaths as they watched each other; admiring the lust in their eyes, that thirst for one another only desire could produce.
Heartbeats were thudding against their ribcage, wild looks and heavy stares exchanged for a moment suspended in time- something that was only theirs to share, the passion of the first days, realizing you have that deep hunger for someone, trying to quench it until you have nothing left but pleasure and for once, Bella felt something more.
She had experienced passion before, hell she was no stranger to fucking and had sexual trysts from time to time, but nothing like that. Ever. Her body was responding more to the Russian than any other woman she had ever been with, there was that thread that pulled her to the other, that deep nagging she had felt ever since they had met which only Rosalie seemed to soothe.
At first, it was an annoying inkling she tried to stop, but now, it felt bigger. That was a strange feeling, frightening yet exciting, hovering over the deep end for a moment too long before leaping. Shit, she was so fucking screwed, she thought as she watched her little spitfire and the lust written all over her beautiful face.
"Well one thing we know for sure, Princess," Bella grinned to her flushed Russian, "we got chemistry alright," she winked as the other laughed, granting her a full blown smile in her flushed face.
"Svyatoye der'mo!" She giggled, something that delighted the American. Even if she was still lost in translation, she supposed she'd have to get used to it, and frankly, if she could get that reaction to a kiss with her Slavic beauty, she couldn't wait to see her writhing under her body all night long- now that would be a sight for sore eyes. Rosalie was glowing, there was no other word to qualify the pleasure written on her face, and Bella was treated to what seemed like a rare occurrence for the figure skater who appeared to be so tightly in control of her emotions to the outside world- and yes, a bit of an epic bitch sometimes. Bella wrapped a strand of blond hair around her finger and played with it, tugging it behind Rosalie's ear after a while.
"It was good," Rosalie commented, "but I need to get back to practice," she added with regret lacing her tone.
"Just good? Fuck, Princess, it was more than that-"
"Zakhvatyvayushchiy...Um...Spectacular?" The Russian teased, smirking at Bella who laughed.
"That's more like it, yeah," the hockey player smiled arrogantly while Rosalie just rolled her eyes at the satisfied, proud American still holding her close.
"Tomorrow, after the opening ceremony, can we meet?" Rosalie asked, fidgeting for a second, "We need to discuss how we are doing this,"
"Oh so we're doing it, now?" Bella teased, fucking ecstatic that the other would be willing to risk it. "Sure, I'll try to see if Aro can bring me here, would that be OK for you? I figure it will be safer, we both have a reason to be here, so it shouldn't look suspicious-"
"I will try and be here. It is best, da," the Russian nodded, eagerly agreeing to Bella's tentative draft of a plan.
"Alright. Can I have your number, Princess?"
"I think you will have to work for it, isn't that what you Amerikos say?" Rosalie countered with snark.
"Oh come on, Rosalie. Don't play hard to get, Princess, it's gonna be difficult enough as it is," Bella argued as she mustered the most innocent, pleading look she could project for her little Russian's benefit and try to soften her up. That was a side she had yet to see, playful yet sarcastic Russian. "Besides, you never know when you could want a repeat of...how did you put it again?" She baited her Slavic blond with a smile, only half joking, "ah yes, spectacular, isn't it?"
"So you can kiss, bol'shoye delo! We will see what else you can do." Rosalie retorted with a challenging look on her face, that glint in her blue eyes daring Bella to do something.
She tugged the Russian against her body once more, delighting in the feeling of her curves pressing to her own and whispered, "whatever you want, Princess," before biting her earlobe and soothing the tender flesh with her tongue, making Rosalie gasp. She kissed her neck next, laying butterfly kisses and quick licks here and there to hear her Russian moan. She disentangled herself from Rosalie the moment she gave her what she wanted, that low thrum of her voice which told her she liked the attention. Bella left her bereft, still dazed and confused, with her eyes half closed and her mouth open.
"That was no fair," the Russian shook her head and frowned as she watched Bella step back from her with a grin on her face.
"All's fair in love and war, Princess," she winked, "come on, do I have to beg for that number?" Bella asked, cocky smirk back in its place as she faced her little Slavic temptress.
Rosalie smiled before relenting, giving it to her and getting the American's digits into her phone before they separated with a promise to meet the next day, after the opening ceremony.
As she was leaving the ice rink that night, Bella felt hopeful. Maybe it was foolish, to hope and actually try to believe that she could have it all, get the girl and the gold, but she would fight. Politics and rivalry be damned, she was dead set on getting her way, no matter how many pitfalls threatened her path. And so far? Neither her determination nor bravery had ever failed her.
Russian 101 :
Mne ochen' zhal' = I'm sorry
Ya prosto = I'm just
Ya prosto zaputalsya = I'm just confused
Nepravil'no, eto : 'ya ne ponimayu'= Wrong, it's 'I don't understand'
Eto razocharovaniye = It is frustrating
Na menya okazyvayut vliyaniye = I'm biased
khorosho= well
Chert poberi = Damn it
lyubimaya = darling
Svyatoye der'mo != Holy shit!
Zakhvatyvayushchiy= spectacular
Amerikos = Russian derogatory term for Americans
bol'shoye delo= big deal!