Alexandra's head spun as she hung the telephone up. Dear Lord, what shall I do now? she asked herself. I know I'll eventually have to tell Illya, but he'll be so very upset. Neither of us ever expected this to happen.

How she wished she had someone to confide in! Yet she couldn't think of a single person. At her wits end, she finally decided upon a random Russian Orthodox priest she'd found in the New York City telephone directory.

She felt a bit uneasy as she entered his office. She'd never done anything like this before in her entire life.

"Sit down, my child," the priest said disarmingly. "Tell me what troubles you."

"I'm afraid that I find myself in a most unfortunate situation," Alexandra began. "You see, although I am well aware of how sinful it is, I have engaged in marital relations with a man to whom I am not wed. As I believed myself to be past childbearing age, I saw no need to use protection against pregnancy. I have just learned that I am with child, and due to the nature of his job, the father of my child is unable to marry me."

"Have you told him of your pregnancy?" asked the priest.

"Not yet. I know that I will eventually have to tell him, but I fear his reaction."

"My advice is to tell him as soon as possible. I suspect that his reaction may surprise you. If it is as negative as you fear, come back and talk to me again, and we can determine how best to proceed from there."

"Oh, thank you!" Alexandra exclaimed.

As Illya was away on assignment, she had a few days in which to prepare for the best way to tell him. Friday evening she was at the airport to welcome him when his flight came in.

They saw one another at about the same time. His face lit up with a big grin as he rushed to embrace her. As she felt the welcome warmth of his strong arms around her, she wished that she never had to let him go.

"Alexandra!" he exclaimed. "How have you been?"

"Keeping well. And yourself, dearest Illya?"

"As you can see, I managed to dodge all the bullets shot at me." Alexandra's eyes widened in alarm, but then Illya laughed, and she sighed with relief and joined in, then turned serious.

"I have a matter of significant importance to discuss with you, Illya, but I'd best wait and do it in private."

Illya's expression turned as grave as her own. "I hope that nothing is seriously wrong."

"I fear that you may regard it in that light, yes."

Illya's face darkened in concern. "Now you have really made me curious."

"It is but a short ride from here to your apartment. We will talk there."

Once inside the apartment, Illya gestured for Alexandra to sit on the sofa and asked if she wanted anything to drink. "No, thank you," she told him. He poured himself a vodka and then sat beside her on the sofa, waiting for her to begin.

"You see, Illya, when we became physically intimate, I assumed myself to be past childbearing age and so failed to take precautions."

Illya gasped and turned a bit pale.

"As a result of that choice, I have recently learned that I am with child."

Illya turned even paler and just sat there for a moment, stunned, as Alexandra waited with deep trepidation for his response.

"Are you...absolutely sure?" he finally asked. Alexandra nodded glumly, and he frowned with concern. "Dearest, you are rather...what I mean to say is that at your age, pregnancy and delivery can be quite dangerous. It is of utmost importance that you are under the care of a competent obstetrician as soon as possible. Have you arranged to visit one?"

"I have already been to visit him and am now under his care."

Illya looked immensely relieved. "Well, what did he say? Did he give you a due date?"

Alexandra nodded. "Seven months from now."

To her amazement, Illya grinned. "Well, I certainly never expected this to happen, but now that it has, I find that I feel quite pleased at the prospect of becoming a father."

"I was so afraid you would be angry."

"But why should I be angry?"

"Because I failed to take precautions, assuming that there was no need to do so."

"But that was my responsibility as much as it was yours, my love."

"I never thought of it like that before."

Illya's fingers softly caressed the side of her face. "I know that you are afraid, but everything is going to be all right, darling."

"Oh, Illya..." Suddenly she was crying tears of relief and...yes, happiness.

"Alexandra." He embraced her and held her tightly, and in his arms she found comfort and security.