AN: Music for this chapter (on repeat): Don't Worry Baby by The Beach Boys, Book of Days by Enya, The Beach Song by Hans Zimmer, Zombie Nation by Kernkraft400, Back in Black by AC/DC, And Then He Kissed Me by The Crystals, Wild Thing by The Troggs, Mrs. Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel, Never Grow Old by The Cranberries.
The magazine covers mentioned will be available on the tumblr page for these stories: aliasabsolutionforeverandalways
THIRTEEN
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When Jack awoke in the morning, Irina wasn't in bed beside him. It was still early and judging from the feel of her side of the bed, she hadn't been there in awhile. His eyebrows knit in worry remembering her state last night and flipped back the sheet, jumping out of bed and going over to the dresser to pull on a pair of pajama pants. He felt exhausted, physically and emotionally after last night and yesterday as he opened the door and went to check on Lena.
To his surprise, the door was already slightly ajar and he heard the most beautiful sound coming from inside, Irina's laughter mixed with Lena's giggles and squeals.
When he pushed open the door further, he saw Irina sitting with knees bent off to the side, her upper body resting on one arm, across the room, looking over Lena lying on the big white fur rug, the sunlight streaming in on them and oblivious to his presence.
Irina leaned forward and began rapidly kissing Lena all over her neck, face and body making her squeal as Irina smothered her with kisses, making them both laugh. She scooped her up and continued to plant a million kisses all over her face and neck as she pulled her into her arms.
When Lena reached behind her with one arm towards Jack, babbling, "Dada, da-da."
Irina turned with a brilliant smile on her face.
"Good morning." She smiled, speaking softly, rubbing her cheek softly against Lena's pressed to her face.
When she woke up this morning she was still incredibly upset and worried about her unborn babies, but when she went to check on Lena and found her playing happily in her crib, standing up the minute she saw her and smiling, reaching for her and then kissing her with her now famous slobbery kiss, Irina just knew, felt it in her heart, that everything would be ok.
*Don't Worry Baby*
"Good morning." Jack smiled, happy to see her smiling and slowly sat down beside them, reaching forward with one hand to kiss her softly. 'She always had a way of bouncing back.' "What are you two, up to already this morning?" He reached over, running his hand over Lena's head.
"Getting smothered with her morning kisses from big sister Sydney by way of Mama." Irina smiled brightly, "On top of the ones from me of course." She nuzzled her face against Lena's cheek, her eyes locking on Jack's and holding his steady gaze for a moment in silence. Jack saw the change in her eyes and most notably, the absence of fear within them from last night.
"Don't worry, everything will turn out all right." Irina spoke in almost a whisper with a smile, the look in her eyes of certainty, obviously knowing something intuitively as their mother that he didn't and he trusted her, believed her, and let go of his own fear.
He reached out and ran his hand down the side of her face, nodding softly with a smile choosing in that moment with her, to concentrate on the 'good' for now, enjoy this pregnancy and worry another day.
They both were realists enough to realize that they couldn't just stop worrying because they wanted to, part of them would always worry, but they were making the choice not to concentrate on it, think negatively and instead, concentrate on the positives, the blessings in their live and the ones to come. The new day, had brought with it, new prospective.
Irina's eye darted to Jack's lips and slowly leaned in, his mouth met hers and shared a soft kiss.
Twelve Days Later
Irina leaned against the limo with Lena in her arms, watching as the Imperial Jet came to a stop just in front of them a few hundred feet. Lena was babbling excitedly and giggling in Irina's arms. Irina whispered into her ear in Russian, smiling.
"Your sister's home!" She pointed with her finger towards the jet where the door was opening and they waited impatiently to see the first sight of Sydney and Vaughn.
Lena started waving with her one tiny hand not clutched to Irina's neck with a smile, preparing for her sister, understanding the word 'sister' and that's all she needed to in her baby excitement.
So many things had happened in the last two weeks that Sydney and Vaughn had no idea of, though they were about to find out. Julian arrived home earlier in the day and now Irina anxiously waited to see her daughter. She had missed her terribly.
Lena started clapping immediately when she saw her sister step through the door and wave at them from the top of the steps with an enormous smile and glowing tan, Vaughn just behind her.
Sydney's eyes were already glistening with tears at just the mere sight of her mother and sister waiting for them at the bottom and started rapidly descending the stairs with an enormous smile. When she reached the bottom she sucked in a sharp breath seeing how much her mother's belly had 'popped' since she last saw her and more tears surged forth.
Irina's eyes were as teary as Sydney's and she held up her hand with a smile, telling Sydney and Vaughn to 'stop and stay where they were' much to their surprise. Sydney had been prepared to launch herself into her mother's arms upon arrival.
"What is she doing?" Vaughn asked with a curious smile as they both watched Irina whispering into Lena's ear. She smiled and squatted down, setting Lena on her feet on the tarmac with an enormous smile.
*Book of Days*
Sydney gasped, tears running over her cheeks and covered her mouth in shock with one hand when she saw Lena take her first step towards them and then smiled brightly and came charging forth on tiny legs, heading straight for Sydney, almost running.
"Oh my God!" Sydney gasped crying with a smile, squatting down to Lena's level and scooping her up when she made it to her, all giggles and smiles. "You're walking! Oh my God, Vaughn!" She stood kissing her sister with surprise and looking to her husband with astonishment, seeing it in his eyes and smile as well. "I can't believe she's walking!" She cried.
Irina couldn't take the separation any longer and walked the remaining distance, smiling and throwing her arms around Sydney, kissing her with tears coursing down her own cheeks, she closed her eyes and let out the breath it seemed like she'd been holding in since Sydney had left two weeks ago.
"Welcome home. I love you." She stepped back and kissed her with a smile and then Michael.
"I can't believe she's walking! And so well!" Sydney cupped the side of Lena's head with a smile, pressing her little cheek to her own in a big hug. "When did this happen?"
"Two days after you left." Irina smiled, proudly, brushing Lena's cheek thinking about it. "Your father and I were playing with her in the nursery just after she woke up and she crawled across the rug, stood up holding onto her little table, smiled and took a step, let go and kept coming straight towards me with a smile." She laughed softly, "We were just watching her in shock. We didn't breathe until she wrapped her little arms around my neck and then we just looked at each other in astonishment that she'd just walked across the room to us. She's been going, going, going ever since!" Irina laughed at the way her youngest had literally 'hit the ground running.'
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sydney smiled, with a stricken look on her face; obviously upset she missed such an important event in her sister's life. "I've talked to you everyday on the phone since then!"
"Because I didn't want you to feel badly on your honeymoon about missing her first steps." Irina gave them a sympathetic and apologetic smile, "And because I wanted to see your face when she came charging into your arms." She laughed softly as did they, happy that she had Dmitri recording it with the video camera from the opposite side of the car.
"I just, can't believe she learned to walk while we were away." Sydney shook her head with a sad smile, nuzzling Lena's hair and kissing her tiny hands.
"She was so close when we left, Sydney." Vaughn gave her a small smile, understanding why she was a little sad they'd missed it as he was feeling it too.
"And… listen to this." Irina smiled with an arched eyebrow, knowing they were about to be stunned again. "Lena," she addressed her baby, standing right next to Sydney holding her, "Who is this?" She asked her in Russian, cupping Sydney's cheek softly.
Lena turned her head, following her mother's finger to look at her sister's face and Sydney held her breath, in disbelief. Lena arched her eyebrow in the way that made them laugh and smiled widely.
"Nee-nee." She giggled and Sydney gasped with a smile.
Irina had figured this out when Lena reached for the photo of Sydney on her nightstand, adamantly calling out 'Nee-nee,' stretching her little arm and fingers until Irina let her hold the frame.
"And who is this?" Irina reached her hand out to cup Vaughn's face gaining Lena's attention.
Lena looked at him with the same curious eyes and smiled.
"My-my." She reached for Vaughn, holding her little arms out to him until he took her from Sydney.
Both Sydney and Vaughn in shock, looking at her with smiling eyes. She couldn't say 'Sydney and Michael' but she certainly knew who they were and got part of the pronunciation correct, which was rather astounding for a ten month old.
Sydney just shook her head in amazement, "I can't believe it! She's changed so much in just two weeks!" More tears flooded her eyes, and she grabbed Lena's hand to kiss it again, "She's calling me 'Nee-Nee!" She laughed, "And you 'My-my!" She moved her hand to cup Vaughn's cheek when his smile widened. "What else has she learned?" Her eyes went back to her mother's, smiling.
"Well, she definitely knows 'Da-da' now, and as Julian found out this morning," Her smile widened remembering his similar reaction when Lena came charging towards him, "She knows his name…"
Lena heard 'Julian' come out of her mother's mouth and immediately smiled, chanting her brother's name. "Jue-Jue!"
"And there it is!" Irina laughed, running her hand over Lena's head softly. "She also calls Katya, 'Ah ah." That one made them all laugh, "And Dmitri 'Me Me." She smiled across the top of the limo to Dmitri who was leaning against the car with a smile, "Marcelo is just too hard for her still, so she just holds out her arms and squeals for him." She laughed.
"I can't believe she's really starting to talk now… and walk!" Sydney smiled, still shaking her head in awe. "She's learning everything so rapidly now… it's amazing."
Irina smiled with pride and laughed when Lena laid her head on Vaughn's shoulder, snuggling her face into his neck and under his chin, clutching his neck with her little hand, obviously missing him too.
"I've asked your mother to start speaking to her only in French now, so she is exposed to it too, now that her language skills are starting. We want her to be fluent in as many languages as she can…" Irina was about to ask when Vaughn read her mind.
"I'll do the same. " Vaughn smiled, speaking in French, leaning his cheek onto the tiny little girl's head.
"Thank you." Irina smiled at him softly, loving her new son-in-law's perceptions. "Katya and Marcelo are speaking to her only in Italian now, Dmitri, Mikhail and I, continuing in only Russian, and your father and Julian in English." She smiled at Sydney, loving the fact that her 'family' spoke so many languages fluently to be able to expose and teach her baby without the use of Project Christmas training.
"Well what do you want me to speak to her in?" Sydney asked with a smile, excited about the fact that they were all going to have a part in teaching Lena, the 'future Tsar of Russia,' so many languages. "I've got thirteen languages and several dialects to choose from." She giggled, nuzzling Lena.
"Whatever you'd like, Sweetheart." Irina brushed Sydney's cheek with her fingers, just enjoying 'looking' at her after not seeing her face for two weeks. She felt her eyes welling with tears and immediately stepped forward to grab Sydney into a hug again. "I'm so happy you're home. I've missed you so much."
Sydney had called her only twice in the middle of the night after awaking from horrendous flashback dreams from Kashmir and cried into the phone, only comforted by Irina's soothing voice and reminder that she was 'ok.'
The daily phone calls, had otherwise worked. Sydney had actually opened up a little bit more to Vaughn one night about what had happened after getting off the phone with her mother, a little calmer now and was able to talk to her husband. She told him how she was feeling when it happened, mostly the things to her mother, and some of the things she still struggled with still, perhaps always would.
Vaughn held her when she cried, crying along with her at the viciousness of the evilness inside Cuvee and what they had gone through, understanding on a new level, even more, why Irina and Sydney 'needed each other' then and now to survive this, get through it and keep going. He understood, just as Jack, that there were just some things, that they as their husbands couldn't 'help' them with no matter how much they wanted to, because this was something between a mother and daughter.
In the end, Vaughn was 'there for her' in his understanding of 'why' she needed her mother, missed her, and listened when she needed to tell him the 'why.'
"I missed you too, Mom. So much." Sydney cried again, smiling and hugging Irina tightly, "Thank you so much for the wonderful honeymoon."
"Yes, thank you, Irina." Vaughn added smiling, at them hugging.
"You're both very welcome." Irina pulled back, smiling and wiping her tears with one hand, holding tightly to Sydney's with the other.
"I can't believe how big you've gotten in the last two weeks!" Sydney smiled looking down excitedly and placing her hand over her mother's belly that seemed to have doubled in size. With Irina's incredibly thin frame, the baby belly was really showing now carrying twins.
"I can't either!" Irina laughed, running her hand over her belly bulge underneath her thin form fitting black sweater. "I look in the mirror every morning and shake my head in wonder." She smiled, laughing softly, "And your father keeps reminding me I'm having twins!" Her heart skipped a beat feeling Nicholas kick beneath her hand, remembering the news that she and Jack were going to be breaking to the three tonight after dinner.
"While you're definitely bigger then the last time we saw you," Vaughn smiled, running his hand over Lena's back in soft circles as the baby fell asleep, "You still look pretty tiny to me." He gave her a bashful grin, "For having twins."
"Ok, now you sound like Alexei!" Irina laughed, hearing the same thing from her doctor and friend yesterday.
"How did the doctor's appointment go yesterday?" Sydney asked excitedly with a smile on her face, yet to release her mother's hand.
"It went well." Irina gave them a soft smile, not wanting to get into it now while they were standing on the tarmac and knowing she was going to need Jack by her side to break this news. "Right now, we should get going! Dinner is ready and waiting!" She tugged on Sydney's hand with a smile and Dmitri opened the door for them, hugging Sydney and shaking Vaughn's hand to welcome them home.
When dinner was over, Irina and Jack had managed to get Sydney, Vaughn and Julian into the living room to talk without them being aware.
Dmitri had brought them all tea and Jack now sat on the end of the couch, turned slightly with Irina leaning back against him, his arm draped lazily over her shoulder and Lena sleeping against her chest, her little legs already having to 'spread out' around the baby belly her mother was sporting.
Julian was in the big leather chair on the other end of the couch and Sydney, sitting on Vaughn's lap was in the other, on the end nearest them.
They began with idle chit-chat about the honeymoon, India, Ash and then Lena's new milestones before breaking into the news that would undoubtedly leave them all in tears. Sydney gave them the perfect segue way when she asked again, about the recent doctors appointment and the progress of the twins.
"They are both right on schedule," Irina gave them a small smile, feeling the emotion welling inside her already, "A little small but Alexei said that was normal in this case." She sighed heavily, taking a deep breath and fingered her hair behind her ear, looking down and bit her lip a moment nervously.
"What's wrong?" Sydney asked immediately, noticing the sudden change in both of her parents, the way Irina sighed and looked away, her tone, the way her father seemed to sense her mother's distress and kissed the back of her head as if encouraging her. "What aren't you guys telling us?" She paused feeling her heart speed up, "Or rather… what are you 'trying to tell us?" She looked quickly to Julian and back, realizing now why her aunt and uncle 'excused' themselves just after dinner, leaving her parents alone with them. Even Dmitri, who was normally around, had disappeared.
Irina swallowed and blinked hard, trying to force back tears that would not be stopped. She quickly moved her finger to the corner of her eye to wipe the tear before it fell, licked her lips and took another deep breath before facing her daughter's all-too perceptive gaze.
"A couple of weeks ago, just after you all left, your father and I got the results from Alexei on the amniocentesis done on Nicholas and Nadia." She said rapidly and softly, pausing to inhale another shaky breath and locked eyes with Sydney, already spotting tears there. Her daughter had no idea what was wrong, only that something was. "We found out that Nicholas has Hemophilia." Her silent tears fell down her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away, trying to give a small smile.
Julian, Sydney and Vaughn all sat with wide-eyes, holding their breath and staring at Irina in disbelief as tears pooled in all their eyes.
"Like Alexei?" Sydney asked barely above a whisper, terrified as her world came crashing down around her at the thought of losing another brother… possibly sister too, if something went wrong in the pregnancy.
"Yes and no." Irina gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her. Irina had been researching feverishly and learning with Jack everything they could about the type of Hemophilia their son had in order to be informed and prepared. The more they learned, the easier they breathed, having less fear of the 'unknown.' What they learned about the disease was still terrifying but armed with knowledge they felt more in control, more prepared.
"Yes, he has the same type of Hemophilia as Alexei did but no, in that, the way they treat Hemophilia now is much better and safer then when they were treating my uncle. A great deal more is known about the disease now and there are teams all over the world researching it and finding ways to treat and potentially cure it, including the University in Moscow." She gave another small smile, blinking back fresh tears, trying to remain positive and not scare them anymore then they already were. Irina knew that the Medical University, had been researching the disease like many others but now, with a son being born as a Hemophiliac and a daughter as a carrier, its research held her full attention. For the last two decades she had been studying DNA sequences, disease and treatments for the purpose of Rambaldi and now, she would pursue the same things for Hemophilia.
"If he has Hemophilia, doesn't that mean his blood doesn't clot? And the smallest injury can cause internal bleeding?" Vaughn asked softly, swallowing hard with tears in his eyes at the prospect of what this meant for the baby.
Irina nodded softly, blinking and a lone tear escaped down her cheek.
"Yes, but if he receives treatments of the blood factor he's missing, which is Factor XIII on a regular basis, that shouldn't be too much of a problem." She informed them softly, and Jack ran his hand over her arm.
"Well when can he start getting this Factor?" Sydney asked rapidly as fresh tears coursed down her cheeks, her heart pounding in her chest with fear. She knew by the look in her mother's and father's eyes, they were both struggling to show a calm exterior when inside she saw the pain and fear they were trying to hide, even from themselves.
"When he's born." Jack added softly, managing to control his tears and blink them back and give her a small reassuring smile.
"Yeah but what about until then?" She asked panicked, wiping at her tears stinging her face. "The risk to him? To Nadia? To Mom?" Her eyes darted immediately to her mother, afraid for her as well.
"Alexei assured us that they are both safe and healthy right now, protected inside your mother." Jack placed his hand over Irina's residing on her belly, offering them another small smile. They were asking the same questions, worried about the same things that he and Irina had been and still were.
"And Mom?" Sydney inhaled a shaky breath, her fear for her mother on high alert now, knowing she was already high-risk before this for multiple reasons.
Julian's heart was pounding for the same reasons, too stunned and scared to say anything and thankful Sydney was asking all the questions he wanted answers to.
"I'm ok, Sweetheart." Irina smiled at her through her own tears, touched once again by her concern. "I was already a High-Risk, so not much will change in how I handle this pregnancy from the last." Irina ran one hand over Lena's back while the other stayed on her belly. "No more physically heavy workouts or running, I have to eat twice as many calories, and… I'll be having a C-Section." She added the last one softly with a shy smile, seeing the immediate flash of alarm in all three pairs of eyes.
"Why?" Sydney shot back at her with the expected rapid fire.
"The process of labor and squeezing through the birth canal are already traumatic for the baby and there is a risk, with babies who have Hemophilia, of inter-cranial bleeding during birth…" Irina answered, swallowing hard and speaking in her most soothing motherly-tone trying to calm her children's fears and keep her own at bay. "It's a risk Alexei, your father and I don't want to take so we decided the safest route was by C-section."
The three sat once again in stunned silence as more tears formed in their eyes hearing and really realizing, just how serious this was if the baby could die during birth.
"Try not to worry." Irina gave them her best smile; even with unshed tears in her eyes. "Alexei said that my pregnancy is going beautifully and he has no reason to believe it won't continue to do so. Everything will be ok."
"And they both got the same tremendous DNA and heart that you and Lena inherited from your mother," Jack smiled brightly, trying to ease the tension in the room, "After everything the 'three' of you have made it through, I have no doubt that these two will as well!"
Sydney finally gave them a small brief smile though tears still pooled in her eyes, all of this overwhelming. "You found this out almost two weeks ago. Why didn't you tell me? Us?" She motioned between the three of them just hearing the news, "When you talked to us on the phone? We would have come home immediately." Her voice quivered having an idea of how terrified and upset her parents, especially her mother, must have been when they first found out, because of the way she was feeling now just finding out.
"Exactly why we didn't tell you." Irina answered quickly in her teacher tone then softened with a shy smile. "You were on your honeymoon," She smiled at Sydney and Vaughn, "And you were finally spending sometime with Ash," She looked at Julian with the same smile, "We didn't want to interrupt such happy and well deserved vacations for the three of you."
"Mom…" Sydney looked at her, using 'that' tone that suggested none of that was important.
"Sydney." Irina shook her head softly, looking down and re-fingering the same offending hair behind her ear again in her nervousness. Truth be told, she had desperately wanted to tell her children and have them come home, so she could hold them in her arms and tell that she loved them. But that would have been for her sake, not what was best for them.
Sydney didn't wait for Irina to finish, understanding her loving motherly heart and why she didn't tell them, 'wanting them to have their happiness even as her own world was crashing down around her… she wanted her children to be happy for as long as they could.' She bolted from the chair and dropped to her knees, sliding into the front of the couch and immediately incasing her mother in a hug, careful of Lena.
"I love you and I'm here for whatever you need me to be or do. We all are." She answered for the other two knowing they would be as well, closing her eyes and inhaling her mother's scent as tears fell silently down her cheeks. She pulled back and smiled at Irina, reaching out to wipe her mother's tears the same time Irina reached out to wipe Sydney's causing them both to laugh slightly with smiles.
Sydney placed both palms against her mother's belly, staring at it for a moment, feeling the warmth radiating from her body and the movement of the twins within. She smiled softly and dropped two kisses, one to each side, gently moving her hands over the expanse.
"Thank you." Irina lifted her chin with her fingers, smiling.
Sydney returned her fantastic dimpled grin before sliding over to embrace her father, kissing his cheek and holding onto this neck tightly.
Vaughn stood, smiling at Irina softly wiping his own tear trails and sat down softly beside her, slowly wrapping his arm around her, carefully pulling her into a soft hug, kissing her cheek as he pulled back and Irina pegged his with one of her own, already accepting him as another 'son,' before it was legal. "Whatever you need." He looked into her beautiful dark eyes and held her gaze, knowing he meant it with everything in him. Hesitantly, he reached out and placed one palm over her belly, feeling the babies moving beneath and smiled softly. Somehow feeling the life inside her moving and thriving, helping to ease their worries. He ran his thumb gently over her sweaters surface, continually surprised and awed by the fact she was pregnant and life was growing inside her, the firmness he felt beneath his hand contrasting with the soft glow she seemed to be emitting.
Irina smiled, seeing the love and caring in his eyes, the continued awe and kissed his cheek softly again before he pulled away.
"Thank you."
Julian stood and wiped the tear tracks off his own face, walking slowly to stand in front of Irina and knelt down, dropping all the way to his knees in front of her and beside Sydney on the floor, who was leaning against the couch now, with her arm propped up holding her head next to Jack.
Irina looked at him softly, feeling fresh tears in her eyes seeing the fear in his eyes and with every nervous breath. She held Lena to her chest with one arm and reached out for him with the other, pulling him to her for a hug, holding him there and then kissing his cheek.
Julian pulled back and looked down to her belly, his eyes darting back up to Irina's. She nodded at him softly with a smile, seeing his nervousness and giving him encouragement. He had never felt them moving and kicking inside her yet. He'd never touched her pregnant before in his life; never touched any pregnant woman's belly before and now he was terrified.
*The Beach Song*
Very gently and hesitantly, he placed both palms to her belly, spreading his long fingers out and immediately surprised to feel how strong and active both babies were inside, his eyes flashing back to hers with a small smile of surprise and wonder. This was all still very new to him, Irina pregnant, feeling the actual life moving inside her. It was the most surreal experience of his life thus far. When he looked back up into her beautiful brown, smiling eyes, shining with tears at experiencing a first with him; both of them feeling the kicks inside her together, he felt something he'd never felt before, an instantaneous deep love, for two little people he hadn't even met. He turned his head, lowering it softly to Irina's stomach with his hands still on each side. He felt their movements and kicks and heard Irina's steady heartbeat. His smiled widened and grew with the joy of a little boy written all over his face in absolute fascination and wonder.
Irina couldn't stop the tears, silently making their way down her cheeks, nor the radiant smile blazing across her face. She moved her free hand rest over the top of his head, lightly running her fingertips against his blonde hair.
When he felt a sharp kick to cheek he couldn't stop the childish laugh that escaped causing her to laugh softly with him.
Sydney, Vaughn and Jack were all transfixed watching the interaction between the two and couldn't help the smiles tugging at the corners' of their mouths seeing the monumental moment happening before their eyes, seeing yet another layer of Julian exposed and revealed as another barrier had been crossed and came crashing down.
"This is amazing!" Julian smiled radiantly, speaking slowly, his voice filled with awe and wonder, his head still against her belly and looking right at Jack, Sydney and Vaughn.
Sydney's smile brightened as she nodded right in front of him, agreeing and seeing the 'awe' all over his face and in his voice; knowing what that felt like.
"Wow…" Julian smiled, speaking in almost a whisper.
Irina's eyes met Jack's and shared a knowing smile; her eyes continuously filling with new tears and he could see how much this moment meant to her as well. Their family was finally coming together. Jack motioned for Vaughn to get the camera off the shelf of books and couldn't stop his own radiant smile looking at Irina, with Lena asleep against her chest, her little legs spread out of her mother's torso, Julian's head and hands pressed against Irina's belly, her hand covering his head and the other on Lena's back, radiant smiles on both their faces. This was definitely a moment to capture and remember forever.
When Julian turned his head and placed a soft kiss to her belly, Irina couldn't stop the small gasp of emotion from escaping and the flood of tears; she pulled him back up to her, holding him tightly with one arm.
"I love you, Julian." She whispered into his ear with a smile and small laughter.
"I love you, too, Mama." He closed his eyes, smiling and relishing in her embrace. "I love you, too."
"Vaughn," Sydney addressed him softly, turning over on her side as he climbed into bed and closing the People magazine she was reading about their wedding.
"Yes, my beautiful wife?" He pulled the sheet and blanket up over them, smiling as he dropped a kiss to her lips before snuggling against his own pillow facing her. "Wow, you look gorgeous in this photo." He smiled radiantly, picking up the magazine between them, "Did we get copy?" He set it down again and quirked his eyebrow seeing she was obviously nervous about something.
"Yes. The photographer gave us several copies." She answered quickly, then gave him a small smile, taking a deep breath before, "I wanted to talk to you about something." She approached the subject hesitantly.
"I wanted to talk with you about something, too." He smiled.
"You did?" Sydney asked with a surprised smile, moving in closer to him. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"You don't want to go first?" He asked laughing softly, entwining their legs. Both exhausted after their flight home and then the emotional news about the baby.
"No, you go first." She giggled softly with the dimple grin he loved so much.
"Well, I was thinking about what we talked about on the yacht," He picked up her hand and held it with his own against his pillow, playing nervously with her fingers. "About where we were going to live now…"
Sydney's heart began to beat rapidly in her chest, just about to talk to him, concerning the same thing.
"And…" She asked cautiously, hopefully, fearfully.
"And I think… that the best thing for us to do right now is, stay here." He smiled seeing her eyes widen and the smile immediately lighting her face, "And keep our place in Los Angeles like your parents."
"You do?" She asked breathlessly, squeezing his hand, "I mean this is what I wanted to talk to you about too!"
"Yes, I do." Vaughn smiled, never believing a year ago that he would be volunteering to live under Irina Derevko's roof with her husband, as one big happy family in Russia. "Especially after tonight… hearing about Nicholas," His smile faded softly, and saw immediate tears pooling in her eyes, "I think your parents could probably use the extra help now that they will have three babies and one with special needs on top of ruling a country."
"Oh my God! Yes!" Sydney bolted upright and rolled onto his chest with an enormous smile through her tears, elated he was on the same page, "I was thinking the same thing but I didn't know how you'd feel about it? Feel about living with them and three babies, Julian plus Katya and Marcelo! And I really don't want to live on the other side of the world and miss anymore of Lena's growing up or the twins, I mean, God! Vaughn, look how much we missed… how much she changed when we were gone only two weeks!" She rambled, more tears coursing down her cheeks even though she was smiling, "And my Mom…" She drifted off thinking about how hard it would be to live apart from her now too, with so much left to catch up on.
Vaughn smiled, knowing exactly how she felt and wiped the tears from her cheek, "I can see how happy this makes you, and that's all I want for you, Sydney, to be happy. I know you're not ready to separate from your Mom and Dad, after just getting them back into your life and I feel the same way about Lena, and now the twins, as you do. I don't want to live on the other side of the world from them either. We're closer to my family here and I really want to learn more about my Russian heritage, more about my dad." He smiled, cupping her face, as excited about this idea as she, "And my parents are just a quick plane ride away to France when we start having kids, they'll love that."
"I'll love that." Sydney smiled talking softly as more tears flooded her eyes hearing him speak of their own children. "All our family together…" She dipped her head to kiss his lips. "I love you; thank you." Her eyes dripped warm tears onto his cheeks, holding his face in her hands.
"You don't have to thank me." Vaughn smiled, brushing the tears away once more, so happy, 'she was so happy' the smile reaching her beautiful eyes. "I love you and I want this for you, for us, as much as you do." He pulled her face to his, capturing her lips between his.
She brushed her nose softly against his then giggled madly, "I can't wait. I have to go tell them now!" She rolled off him quickly, bouncing off the bed and practically running for the door making him sit up and laugh, she was so excited, happy. "I'll be right back." She waggled her eyebrows at him making him laugh again before disappearing out the door.
Irina climbed into bed with Jack, laying her head over his chest, one arm draped over his waist, his arm around her shoulders, holding her to him in their favorite sleeping position.
"My god, you're beautiful." He looked at the cover photo and kissed her head, just finishing the magazine article, in the latest Russian magazine about their family. The major announcement of Irina's pregnancy, Lena's achievement in walking, Sydney's honeymoon and Julian's connection to Ash.
"My girls and my son, all on one cover." He smiled, running his thumb softly over the naked exposed skin of her bicep.
Irina couldn't stop the smile from gracing her face hearing him not only say, 'my girls' but 'my son.' Her family was really and truly, finally coming together.
"And your niece and nephew." Irina added, smiling and tracing patterns on his chest through his t-shirt.
"Yes," Jack chuckled, "An entire issue on Romanov children." He paused, and nuzzled his face into her hair with a smile. "Have I told you today, how much I love you?"
"Yes, I believe you have but go ahead and tell me again." Irina purred in Russian and laughed, turning her head and propping up on one elbow to look at him, her fingers' moving to trace his jaw-line.
"I love you so much… my heart clenches, every time I look into those beautiful brown eyes of yours." Jack smiled, whispering back in Russian and brushing the long lengths of wavy hair off her face, pulling her head down gently to kiss her lips.
They separated when they both heard the soft knocking on their door; a knock they knew belonged to Sydney.
"Come in Sweetheart!" Irina smiled calling out and moving from her position, back to snuggle against his chest, her eyes glittering when she saw Sydney standing shyly in the doorway when she opened it.
"How'd you know it was me?" Sydney asked curiously, fingering a piece of her long hair over her ear with a smile looking at her parents all cuddled up together and so at peace.
Jack put the magazine down and smiled in amusement with Sydney's question and the cute way she was standing awkwardly in the doorway like a little girl.
"I'd know that knock anywhere." Irina smiled thinking about how Sydney's knock hadn't changed from the time she was six to twenty-eight when she was seeking entrance to her parents room; motioning with her fingers for Sydney to come closer and sit on the bed. "What can we do for you, Sweetheart?" Her smile brightened in the soft-lit room when Sydney sat down on the edge of the bed, curling one leg under the other.
"Well uh… couple of things actually." Sydney fidgeted nervously and Jack had to smile, as it was something else Irina had apparently passed onto Sydney. "Vaughn and I just made a decision about where we've decided we want to live." Her eyes flitted nervously to them.
Jack swallowed hard and he felt Irina stop breathing against his body, both nervous to hear the decision, both fearing the decision.
Sydney's eyes latched onto her mother's and saw the torrent of emotions just beneath the surface, the threat of tears waiting to fall if not the answer she knew her mother was hoping for. "We've decided were going to live in LA," Sydney paused dramatically gauging their reactions until she saw the tear fall from her mother's eye and heard her small gasp, "Part of the time... as you do, and live here with you the rest of the time." She finished smiling radiantly and was surprised at the speed of which her mother launched herself upright and grabbed her, engulfing her into her arms crying happy tears of relief.
"Oh thank God!" Irina gasped, holding Sydney tightly, smiling and kissing her head repeatedly, Sydney giggling softly feeling her mother's obvious excitement and relief over the news.
Jack was smiling widely with happiness and the same amusement, chuckling softly seeing Irina's reaction.
"So it's ok then, if we stay? The offer is still open?" Sydney asked smiling, relieved to be in her mother's arms again after the two-week separation.
"Of course its ok! Can't you tell?" Jack laughed, nodding towards Irina still holding Sydney in a death-grip of a hug with her back to him.
"Absolutely ok! Better then ok! Some of the best news I've ever received in my entire life!" Irina kissed her head again, pulling back to cup her face and smile brightly through her tears. "I'm so happy, Sweetheart. I've wanted my entire family under one roof on a permanent basis for so long. Thank you." She pulled her forward again, hugging her madly and giggling with excitement.
"Thank you, the both of you, for letting us stay." Sydney giggled back, smiling at her father over her mother's shoulder. "We decided we couldn't think of any other place we'd rather be than with our family. 'Home' is wherever you are." She added softly and squeezed her mother more tightly.
Irina closed her eyes, smiling and taking a deep breath trying not to cry any further upon hearing the declaration.
"I love you, Sweetheart."
"I love you too, Mom." Sydney kissed and pulled back, holding her mother's hands in hers, "Which brings me to my second thing…" Her eyes twinkled with mischief, as her smile widened and her voice softened with hesitation. "Can I snuggle with you for a minute? I missed you so much while I was-"
Irina leaned forward rapidly, kissing her with a radiant smile, "Of course. I will never pass up an opportunity to snuggle with you!"
Sydney's dimples deepened to impossible depths hearing her mother's reply and then looked down to her father, "I think this time… we should share Dad."
Jack's mouth dropped open slightly in shock through his smile, hearing Sydney's request and it took him a minute to recover.
Irina's eyes and smile lit with delight seeing his stunned reaction and how much she knew it meant to him to hear Sydney say that, want that.
"Great idea, Sweetheart." She smiled, and turned around, leaning over to drop a soft kiss to Jack's lips, holding his gaze in understanding for a moment before resuming her position, snuggling down against his shoulder, tugging on Sydney's hand to join her.
Sydney smiled shyly at her father and crawled up, dropping her head to kiss his cheek softly.
"Thank you Daddy, for letting us stay. I love you."
Jack felt his heart skip and bounce inside his chest, trying to force any tears from coming to his eyes as he smiled in response.
"I love you, too." He opened his arm and Sydney laid down next to him, snuggling her head into the opposite shoulder of her mother and smiled happily when her father's arm closed over her shoulder, holding her like this for the first time since she was little. She giggled looking over at her mother, smiling radiantly when Irina clasped her fingers with hers over Jack's heart.
Jack lost the battle and felt the tears welling in his eyes with the feeling of both of them, in his arms, snuggling together like this for the first time in more then twenty-two years; Sydney on one side, Irina on the other, his arms around both. He was a happy man in that moment. He kissed the top of Irina's head and then Sydney's, content to just hold them while they chatted softly in Russian; something else he adored about their time in Russia was hearing Irina and Sydney conversing her native language.
"And Michael's ok with this arrangement, too?" Irina asked softly with a small smile, wanting to make sure he was comfortable with the idea as well.
"Yeah! Vaughn's as excited about this as I am." Sydney smiled brightly, playing with her mother's fingers, snuggling her face into a better position against her father. "After realizing how much we missed in just two weeks with Lena, he doesn't want to live on the other side of the planet and only see her every few months either, or Nicholas and Nadia." She smiled seeing how this news lit her mother's face into a bright smile. "We don't want to miss out on watching them grow up and knowing them… and we don't want you guys to miss out on watching our kids grow up, either."
Irina's eyebrows shot up, amused, "Sweetheart, are you trying to tell us something?" She quirked her eyebrow, teasing and heard Jack's heart beat speed up beneath her ear, she laughed softly.
"Mom!" Sydney giggled and blushed, knowing her mother was teasing. "You know what I meant! In the future."
Jack released the breath he didn't realize he was holding and closed his eyes, sighing.
"Just checking." Irina gave her a mischievous smile and small laugh hearing Jack's sigh and remembering the Immaculate Conception grandchildren talk they had.
Sydney stayed for about five minutes snuggling and chatting with her parents before she realized how long she'd been gone. "I guess I need to extract myself and return to my husband before he starts to wonder where I've gone to." Sydney sighed with a happy smile, pushing herself up onto one elbow, leaning over her father to kiss Irina goodnight first, and then Jack. "Goodnight and I love you." She smiled at them when she stood beside the bed. "Thanks for letting me snuggle." She giggled.
"Anytime Sweetheart and we love you too." Irina kissed her fingertips with a smile, blowing her a kiss, "Goodnight."
As soon as the door was closed behind her, Irina sighed happily, snuggling further into Jack's arms with one hand caressing her very active babies. "You're still in shock aren't you?" She asked Jack, laughing softly when he remained absolutely silent.
"About which part? The part where she actually wanted to share 'me' with you, snuggling against me for the first time in twenty-two years? Or when you suggested she might be pregnant... or just now, when she said she was returning to her 'husband,' something I still can't get used to her saying?" Jack rambled on quietly with a smile in a mixture of happiness, slight panic and stunned awe.
"How about all of the above?" Irina laughed softly.
"Yes, I'm shocked over all of the above." He smiled, laughing softly with her and wrapping both arms around her.
*Zombie Nation*
Los Angeles, California - Dodger's Stadium
"I can't believe this! Look at this crowd!" Vaughn smiled, looking around to the tiers of packed seats above them and surrounding their seats. "This is insane! I've never seen the crowd like this before here, ever!" He bounced Lena on his knee, decked out in her most adorable pink Dodger's outfit that Weiss had gotten for her. The baby's eyes were wide and she was looking around and giggling, waving at everyone around them.
"Gee, I can't imagine why?" Weiss laughed nervously, looking down the aisle smiling at the gorgeous women down the line.
The entire Imperial Family along with Weiss, Carrie and Marshall, Dixon, Chase and his children, the Peterson family and their kid's friends, Kendall and Barnett, Vicki Crane, Devlin and Karen, Will, Mikhail and Bella, and the entire cast of the films and their families along with JJ and the Producers, were all present at the last home Dodger's game of the season against the Angel's.
An entire section of seating had been blocked off for them with their large numbers as well as for security measures and the crowd was going nuts, clamoring to get views of the famous faces.
The first film had been holding steady in the Number One spot, breaking worldwide box office sales since its release and the next film was premiering the following night, which is why everyone was in town and part of its promotion was tonight's game. J.J. had decided he 'just couldn't' sacrifice any more of the film, the real story, to the editing room floor and so, a fourth and final film in the series was born.
The public went bananas with excitement when they heard this and Miramax was overjoyed thinking about the possible revenues of four films this magnitude. The final film set to release in January.
"It's been years since I've been to a baseball game." Sydney laughed excitedly, tickling Lena and making her squirm in Vaughn's lap. Life in the world of espionage these last few years had not afforded her such chances for fun. The last game she attended was with Danny, Francie and Charlie.
"The last baseball game I went to was when Michael was in Little League." Mikhail smiled down at his son, remembering with fondness, his little boy, the image that had carried him through the last two decades.
"The energy in here right now is just incredible." Judy smiled, looking around astonished; the entire crowd singing along with the song excitedly while the players warmed up.
"We've never been to a Dodger's game, only the Yankee's." The beautiful actress Lena smiled over at Weiss her accent tinting her words and mesmerizing everyone.
"Argh! Don't say that word in my presence!" Weiss pretended to plug his ears making the beautiful Swede laugh. He was almost as smitten with her, as he was with Irina.
"Ah, the Yankees!" Ben waved his hand with a smile in disgust of the name, "I'm all Red Sox love!"
"Well tonight, we're all Dodger's fans! There ain't no Angels love here! Think Blue!" Weiss laughed taking the baby, from Vaughn and bouncing her in his own lap, clapping her hands together as she danced her baby jig making them all laugh.
"Well, my son is loving this," Lena nodded towards him down the row with a smile. "All the girls from UCLA." JJ cocked his eyebrow smiling and they all laughed seeing the college girls fawning over and surrounding the handsome young Swedish man.
"I just have to say this, my goodness is that man gorgeous." Judy smiled to Ann and Sophia looking down at Dwayne otherwise known as 'The Rock,' and the other women both smiled and nodded with the same appraising looks.
"And he's so sweet!" Sophia gushed, "Like a big loveable teddy bear!"
"Teddy bear? Are you kidding me?" Weiss looked at her then to the massively muscular man smiling, "He's called, 'The Rock!" He laughed, "I'm just waiting for him to break out that Dodger's jersey and start slamming people around like he did when he was wrestling!"
"He is very sweet, though; a true gentlemen. I've loved working with him." Lena smiled and Jack felt his stomach do a flip-flop in his gut looking at the man playing Dubey in the films, and then at the woman portraying his wife.
It was rather eerie the uncanny resemblance that this actor had to the real man, and Lena to his wife, for that matter. He knew the scenes in this next film would no doubt be gut wrenching to watch.
"Yeah, they got the casting on that one right. Well, as far as looks and body go but I don't know about that 'gentlemen part." Weiss cocked his eyebrow at the man the women were all drooling over remembering Dubey's encounter with Irina in Jakarta.
Irina took a deep breath and smoothed her hand over her belly and the form fitting, lightweight, black sweater covering it. The crowd was absolutely thunderous around her and she watched nervously as the players took their positions around the field.
"Are you ready, Your Majesty?" The pitcher smiled at her, ushering with his hand and a smile towards the field.
*Back In Black*
The crowd went ballistic with the first notes of the familiar song and all eyes darted towards the dugout where Irina, in black, was walking onto the field with the pitcher. She couldn't stop the laughter and smile hearing the unexpected song announcing her entrance and waved, smiling brilliantly in every direction as she made her way to the mound.
"Bloody hell, this is hysterical!" Collin, the man playing Jack in the first film, laughed whistling and looking down over at Bridget, smiling as the two made this old song recently popular again by portraying the 'laundry room goodbye' between Jack and Irina in the first film.
Jack just smiled and shook his head laughing and burning bright red, as everyone reached over to slap him on the back, all of them laughing hysterically at the song choice used to announce Irina.
The crowd was loving it, standing on their feet and going nuts seeing the famous Russian Tsar so close, in Los Angeles, her other home, pregnant for the first time LIVE and watching as she prepared to throw the first pitch of the last game of the season.
Irina took the ball from the pitcher and tossed it in the air, catching it with one hand, before tossing it again, electrifying the crowd and making her laugh. She smiled dangerously, motioning down to the catcher.
"Well, it looks like she's taking this pitch seriously." The announcer laughed, broadcasting the game, "And the full-capacity crowd of 56,000 is going nuts for it!"
Irina inhaled, smiled her beautiful Cheshire cat grin at the pitcher and tossed the ball into the air once more, the moment it landed in her hand she had launched her arm forward with the speed and precision she was used to throwing knives with, smacking the glove dead center across the plate and clocking in at 94 mph sending everyone into loud shrieking hysteria to see a pregnant Tsar throwing as fast and precise as a Major League pitcher, using only one hand.
"Holy shit!" The announcer threw his arms up stunned, his mouth open and smiling at the other astonished people in the booth.
"And that my friends, is why she's so deadly with a knife!" Weiss howled with laughter, whistling and bouncing Lena in his arms. "Cheer for Mommy!" He crooned in her little ear while she clapped her hands, giggling with excitement.
Irina turned and winked at the dumbfounded pitcher standing beside her and waved with one hand, the other covering her belly the entire way off the field.
"Wow." Judy gasped, smiling and clapping watching as Irina left the field and the first batter took the plate. Seeing yet another astonishing aspect of this extraordinary woman first hand.
"Yes, wow." Lena clapped beside her, "I've never worked as hard physically, in my life, than I have on these films portraying her. She's just beyond extraordinary." She shook her head in constant wonder of the woman she'd gotten to know so intimately while working on these films about her life. The two were already fast friends.
When Irina and her security team made their way back to their seats the crowd around them erupted in another standing ovation.
"That was bitchin,' Your Majesty!" Weiss high-fived Irina excitedly, laughing when she moved to her seat next to him, taking Lena out of his arms when the baby reached for her. "If that whole Imperial Tsar thing doesn't work out, I think you have a career in the Majors waiting for you!"
*And Then He Kissed Me*
"That was… wow, Honey." Jack smiled widely, cupping her cheek and kissing her lips proudly.
The crowd went loud again, hearing the song announcing the 'Kiss Cam' making rounds throughout the stadium, showing various couples kissing for all to see.
"You like that?" Irina laughed, kissing him again and the entire stadium 'awed' loudly when their kiss was broadcast on the Jumbo-tron screen.
The first crack of the bat set the game in motion and when the players ran off the field on the third out in the fifth inning, the kissing camera returned to the Imperial section, this time focusing on the newlyweds, Vaughn and Sydney, then Lena and Lasse and finally landed on Kendall and Judy, who looked positively petrified until the loud, cheering of encouragement from the stadium occupants spurred Judy to grab his face and kiss him right on the lips, making everyone in their section howl with laughter and applause. They were all having immeasurable amounts of fun, drinking, laughing and enjoying the game with its exciting homeruns.
The babies were extremely active within Irina with all the noise and excitement and she reached over and grabbed Weiss's hand at the bottom of the sixth inning, placing his hand over her belly surprising him and watching has his eyes got wide feeling the strong kicks beneath.
"Holy crap! Feels like you got kangaroos in there!" He gasped in his slightly intoxicated stage making her laugh. He was in Seventh Heaven, quite possibly the best night of his life and dancing wildly with glee as another double was hit to left center.
"You'd better go now." Irina cupped the side of his head, leaning over whispering into his ear so closely, her breath tickling his senses and making him shiver. "Go ahead." She smiled urging him to go and giving him her 'weak at the knees' smile for encouragement in their own private secret.
"Where's he going?" Vaughn asked as both he and Sophia turned to Irina watching Weiss's retreating form.
"Too many beers, I think." Irina shrugged with a smile, "He has to use the bathroom." Suggesting with a laugh.
"I'm going to start calling him, 'Tiny Tank." Vaughn laughed, "I swear, wherever we go, he always has to 'go!"
"Alright people… time for the Seventh Inning Stretch!" The announcer called out as the last out left the bag.
The Jumbo-tron camera started zeroing in on people again, with most of them doing funny things that made everyone laugh and then once again came back to the most interesting section of seating, this time stopping on Sophia who had no one to kiss as Weiss had left the seat beside her to pee, so she just shrugged with a beautiful smile, making everyone laugh.
*Wild Thing*
"Oh God, he isn't," Vaughn gasped hearing the first chords of the song and then hearing Weiss's voice coming over the loud speaker.
All their eyes darting to the field where Weiss was walking out and singing to Sophia in the stands, with picture portrayed on the Jumbo-tron.
Sophia gasped, covering her mouth in shock watching as Weiss walked towards her, singing his heart out and bringing the crowd to their feet with enthusiastic cheers.
"Oh my God, he is!" Sydney immediately started crying when they saw him jump over the small railing separating them from the field and kneel in front of Sophia, holding a ring on the end of his finger, broadcast for everyone to see, continuing to sing.
"Wild thing…" He sang one last time, his eyes already full of happy tears seeing hers, "Will you marry me, Sophia?"
Katya gasped along with her daughter, tears running down both their cheeks as well as every other woman in their family.
"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you!" Sophia squealed excitedly and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him madly as the Jumbo-tron flashed a big 'YES!' under their onscreen kiss bringing about a thunderous round of applause from everyone, even the players.
"I can't believe he just proposed to the Grand Duchess of Russia at a Dodger's game… while singing 'Wild Thing." Kendall shook his head, bewildered and yet smiling at the same time, clapping. "Its just so… him." He finally concluded, realizing from what he'd known about Weiss, what a fanatic he was about the Dodger's and this was the perfect setting, for him to ask.
"Congratulations!" Vaughn slapped Weiss on the back as he hugged him, everyone around them congratulating them. "You just sang 'Wild Thing' and proposed in front of an entire stadium on National television!" He laughed, amused and elated for his best friend. "How in the hell did you just pull that off?"
"Helps to have inside connections." Weiss nodded over at Irina who was smiling madly as any proud 'mother' would. "And a few beers to calm my nerves." He smiled, laughing as he hugged Sydney incredibly happy.
The group couldn't stop their excited chatter and smiles as the game continued, everyone thrilled for Sophia and Weiss on their engagement and the amazing proposal that was certainly memorable.
At the bottom of the ninth, the 'Kissing Cam' came back to their section to get the newly engaged couple kissing, causing everyone to 'awe' loudly again at how insanely sweet Weiss kissed Sophia.
*Mrs. Robinson*
"Oh my god," Ryan whimpered, covering his eyes when he heard the first notes of the song and the entire stadium started singing along, the camera zooming in on Irina enough to include her former and quite possibly still, smitten student.
Their section died in laughter, including his own wife sitting next to him when the 'Kissing Camera' refused to leave without a kiss from 'Mrs. Robinson' and her former student.
Irina laughed at the antics of the crowd and announcers, having a wonderful time with her family and friends and had learned to accept, the world now saw her as the new 'Mrs. Robinson' after the film; she was used to dealing with pressure and deflecting it while Ryan on the other hand wasn't.
She felt slightly bad for him, seeing him blush madly, embarrassed and covering his eyes trying to slink down in his seat for giving her this somewhat 'eternal' nickname now. She flashed her eyes to Jack and he was laughing hysterically as the entirety of Dodger's stadium was singing along to the song, nodding at her to go ahead and Irina shrugged, turning around and walking towards Ryan while the crowd began to go nuts seeing her move towards the man.
'Payback was hell…' Irina mused with a dangerous gleam in her dark eyes and a smile on her face.
Ann was in hysterics and pulling on his arm for her husband to stand up, seeing Irina approaching with her beautiful grin. She stopped beside Ryan and pulled on his other arm, helping Ann in bringing him to his feet while his own children cheered loudly, behind him.
Irina smiled at him, tilting his chin up and leaned in, placing a soft kiss to the side of his mouth eliciting sharp cheers from the singing crowd. She broke out into laughter seeing Ryan's ears and cheeks burning bright red when she pulled back, laughing harder when Ann grabbed his face and planted a big kiss on his lips, stunning him further as he wasn't prepared for that on top of Irina's kiss.
When she returned to her seat, Jack cupped Irina's face and kissed her once more, still laughing at the song playing in the background and Irina's further humiliation of Ryan, giving him some payback for the nickname and maybe a little reward for saving her life after her execution.
The game ended with a Dodger's win over the Angel's and the crowd going nuts again when they brought Gagne out to close.
Jack rolled over in the morning and smiled, seeing Irina was still fast asleep. Her hand curled up by her face and hair spilling wildly down her back, the sheets twisted haphazardly around her body. He was tempted to kiss her awake and stopped him self, smiling as a better idea came into his head.
Carefully, he extracted himself from the bed and slipped out of the door into the hallway.
*Never Grow Old*
When he reached Lena's door, he could hear his baby playing quietly in her crib and smiled as he opened the door. Her little face smashed in between the bars of her little cage to see who it was and giggled in delight when she saw it was her Daddy.
"Dada da-da!" Lena babbled excitedly pulling herself to stand and reaching with tiny arms out of the crib, opening and closing her hands anxiously waiting for him to come pick her up.
"Hello Peanut!" He whispered with a big smiled, reaching in and picking her up, snuggling her against his chest and inhaling her baby scent. "Good morning!" He kissed her little face and neck.
Jack always loved getting her out of her crib in the morning; she was well rested and happy as could be with all smiles and giggles and his favorite part, very snuggly.
Lena immediately curled into his chest, grabbing onto his neck with one tiny hand and bury her head in the crook of his neck. He walked with her to sit in the rocking chair, with one hand under her little bum and the other protectively across her back as he sat down.
They rocked quietly together for a few minutes with Lena rubbing her little hand softly back and forth over his neck and Jack rubbing his large one over her little back. He couldn't tear the smile from his face resting his chin against her downy soft baby hair.
Lena pulled back, as she always did after a few minutes of quiet and gave him a brilliant toothy smile that melted his heart every time.
"You're so beautiful." He smiled, kissing her neck and making her giggle.
"Mama," Lena called out, her eyebrows arching in thought and Jack laughed seeing the immediate look of determination in her eyes as she wiggled against his arms for him to put her down.
As soon as her little footy-covered pajama feet hit the ground, she spun around with wild abandon and headed straight for the door on fast little legs. She was already to the open door before he got out of the chair, her tiny hands pulling on the big wooden door and smiling up at him with 'thanks' when he opened it further for her to go through.
"Go ahead." He motioned for her to go with a raging smile on his face, "Go get Mama."
The word seemed to recapture her intentions and she toddled forth down the hall towards their bedroom door. She paused, hanging onto the doorframe and waited for her Daddy to catch up and push this big door open for her too and Jack had to stifle his laugh at the impatient look she gave him.
"Mama," Lena called out again as if telling him to hurry up; she wanted who was on the other side of that door.
Quietly he pushed open the door and smiled at his beautiful wife still asleep.
Lena made it to the edge of the bed and bounced impatiently with arms stretched upwards, fists digging into the sheet, her eyebrows knitting together in frustration that she wasn't able to pull herself all the way up.
Jack's eyebrows shot up when he saw her lift her little body off the ground with her mighty little strength and quickly rushed to her side to help before she fell and started crying. With one hand under her little bum, he helped her climb up with a push and watched the raging smile and tiny giggle that escaped from her when she saw Irina lying in front of her.
"Mama!" She giggled excitedly and crawled rapidly across the bed towards her mother.
Irina heard the call somewhere in the fog of her mind and slowly opened her eyes, smiling brilliantly when she saw her baby crawling towards her with the cutest little smile. She closed her eyes again, playing the game with Lena that was now familiar to both of them and Jack laughed, reaching for the camera and capturing it.
Lena stopped crawling just in front of her mother with a curious look and then slowly lowered her little mouth onto Irina's cheek giving her a slobbery opened mouthed kiss, little hands clutching her neck and making Irina burst out laughing and Lena giggle in response.
"Well, hello, my Sweet Girl." Irina greeted her with a smile, opening her eyes and laughing as Lena clapped at waking her mother. "What a beautiful thing to wake up to."
"She's getting closer to pulling herself up into bed." Jack laughed, flopping back down on the bed again with a smile. "I can't believe how strong she is." His hand ran down Lena's back with a smile before leaned over and greeted Irina with a kiss. "Good morning, Beautiful."
"Good morning." Irina threaded her hand into his hair and pulled him back for another kiss.
Lena lay down beside Irina who took advantage of that fact and pulled her baby closer into her chest, snuggling her as her daughter's attention was immediately captured with the locket on her neck that always held her attention.
Jack turned onto his side, laying his head on Irina's hip and smiling happily watching the two. His hand moved up to cover her belly and ran gently over it.
"Good morning Nicholas. Good morning Nadia." He whispered, greeting his unborn babies and smiling widely when he felt them both move to the sound of his voice. "I can't wait to see them and yet," His thumb caressed back and forth over the satiny fabric covering her body, his eyes looking up to meet Irina's, "I don't want this to end, knowing this is the last time." He sighed with a sad smile at the thought of this being the last time she would be pregnant.
"I know, me too." Irina reached one hand down, running it softly through his hair with the same smile. "I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts." She paused for a moment in thought, thinking about the last time, "I'm glad you're here with me this time." She added softly with a knowing smile.
"Me too." Jack smiled, kissing her belly and then moving his hand to pick up one of Lena's little feet, thinking about the fact he missed all of this with her. His heart felt heavy with the reminder as it always did and he moved up onto his elbows and crawled up the bed to lie beside Irina, cocooning Lena between them.
They lay quietly for few moments, each lost in their own thoughts and smiling at Lena who was now lying on her back, giggling and holding onto each of them with one hand, kicking her feet up into the air.
Irina knew what today was, what tonight was… and what that meant. Tonight, her family would see exactly what she was doing in the twenty-one years she was absent from their lives, and she theirs. A terrifying and nerve wracking thought on both fronts.
"Jack," Irina addressed him softly, looking over Lena's little head to meet his eyes; her face still snuggled against the white pillow. "Tonight, I just… if you start to get upset with what you're seeing… please remember this moment," Irina looked down with her fingers lightly brushing through Lena's hair, their baby lying between them in bed, "And how much I love you." She swallowed hard with tears building in her eyes with fear at his reaction.
Jack's heart immediately clenched in his chest, looking into her eyes and seeing the tears, the fear over his reaction to what he was going to see on the film on many levels. He nodded softly against his own pillow, dropping a kiss to Lena's little fist currently flying around in front of his face.
"And you, too. Remember how much I love you. This isn't going to be easy on either of us, I know that." He swallowed hard thinking about her watching his own sexual adventures during their separation and watched the lone tear streak down her face. "But this is the only thing that matters now… us, you and me and our family." He reached over and wiped the tears from her cheek softly, his eyes piercing hers. "I know you love me, Irina. I don't doubt that for a second and no matter what I see, what I learn that I didn't know before; I'm still going to love you tomorrow. I've never stopped loving you. Just channeled it into hate because of the hurt but I've always loved you." He was resounding what they already knew to be the truth, but saying it over and over never hurt especially in times when they knew dealing with the past was going to be difficult.
Irina inhaled a shaky breath, offering him a smile and leaning forward to capture his lips with urgency, needing to feel him and him her…resound that love.
"As I you, Jack. As I you…" She kissed him again softly, her hand cupping the side of his face, "I love you."
They both laughed softly through the tears when Lena started buzzing her lips and wiggled between them.
"You know what I'm most nervous about seeing tonight?" Jack smiled over at her, laughing softly when Lena began to climb up and on his chest.
"Hmm?" Irina asked reaching over to finger Lena's foot with a hesitant breath.
"All the insanity you survived. The multiple attempts on your life. That's what I'm most nervous about." Jack smiled at her.
Irina laughed softly, releasing the held in breath and moved in closer to press herself against his side, her head tucked into his shoulder as they both looked up at their beautiful baby perched on his chest and bouncing with delight.
Tonight's revelations of what exactly happened during those years apart would be eye opening in many ways.
AN: The next chapters dealing with 'The missing 20 years' are some of my most favorite chapters EVER written. The characters, the music, the emotions and the actions... You're goign to want to listen to the music for those chapters if you usually skip it. The lyrics and songs play such an important part just as they would in any 'film.' I'm excited to re-post and read again as well! So get ready!