Alina POV:
~4 years ago~
I was by the lake with Aleksander, Ivan and Genya. Practicing using my powers, for it has been so long I had done so.
It is evening and the whole time I was practicing, Ivan and Genya would argue or joke around with each other.
Aleksander and I were laughing at the way they were acting, and that was when I cried out in pain and crouched to the ground, cradling my stomach.
The pain is like nothing I have felt before. Worst than the cramps I have been experiencing lately.
Aleksander knelt next to me, eyeing me with worry and concern.
He was talking to me, but I couldn't hear a word. I was screaming in pain.
Genya or Ivan, must have said something, for he looked at them then back at me with shock.
Aleksander didn't hesitate and quickly picked me up, rushing me into the palace clinic. I was crying out in pain and my eyes flooded with tears the whole time.
As I was laid onto the clinic bed, clinging onto my stomach and wishing it would just end. Aleksander looked panicked and was shouting orders to people, looking angry.
"She is in labor! Hurry up and do something!" Aleksander was yelling furiously to no one in particular.
Once he yelled I was swarmed by healers. Asking me stupid questions like, 'does it hurt','can you take the pain', ' How long ago was the pain'.
I looked up, and they looked worried about me, but Aleksander's face stood out the most.
He looked furious. "She is in labor! Of course she is in pain! She is crying out in pain! Do something or else!"
The healers put a cloth over my stomach and Aleksander went beside me and took my hand in his.
"I will be here the whole time, darling. Take deep breaths and push when the healer tells you too. I love you. You can do this."
I nodded and did as he asked me to.
The healer was telling me to push and I did. It was painful, but I had to do it. I felt myself sweating.
Aleksander was with me the whole agonizing and painful time. He held my hand and cooed lovely words to me.
I am thankful that he was relaxed throughout the whole time. He was a big help, but when I look into his eyes, I could tell he was worried and frightened about me.
I was about to give up, but the moment I was going to, I heard wailing and crying.
I looked forward and saw a baby.
Aleksander stood up and kissed my forehead, stroking my cheeks.
"Well done, darling. I'm so proud of you. I hated seeing you in pain, but it is over now and our child is apparently healthy. I love you so much. We have a baby boy!" He whispered to me, with a huge grin on his face.
Aleksander cupped my cheeks and kissed me passionately.
I smiled at him when he pulled back. "I love you too. Where is he?"
"They are cleaning him up." Aleksander says.
I laid back on the pillow and realized how tired and sore I was. Sleep took over me and I heard Aleksander calling my name, before I blacked out.
I woke up to the sound of whispers. I kept my eyes shut, still too tired to open them.
"Seeing her in that much pain was horrible." It was Aleksander's voice.
"Alina is strong, the healer said it's normal to rest after giving birth. She even said Alina did really well." It was Genya now.
"She did amazing. I'm so proud of her." Aleksander said and I felt his lips on my forehead.
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
Aleksander was sitting next to my bed holding a baby in his arms and Genya was standing on the foot of my bed. I am still in the palace clinic.
I grinned at the sight of our baby. Aleksander stood up and sat on my clinic bed.
"Good morning, Darling. Here, hold our son." Aleksander grinned at me.
I nodded my head and smiled at the baby.
Aleksander placed our son in my arms and sat next to me on the bed. He wrapped his arm around my waist and I rested my head on Aleksander's chest.
I stared down at my bundle of joy, in my arms. Aleksander and I's baby boy. Our little darkling. He is staring at me with big gray eyes, his fathers eyes. He has my dark brown hair and his father's signature smirk.
"He's perfect. We have a beautiful baby boy." Aleksander whispers to me and kisses my forehead.
I caressed our son's soft cheek. "What should we name him?"
"Hmmm... How about Zachariah?" Aleksander suggested.
I thought about it. "How about... Dustin?"
We were silent for a while. "... Prince... Dustin Zachariah... I like it" Genya said and giggling. "Handsome name for a handsome prince."
I looked up at Aleksander and found him smiling down at me. Adoration and love evident in his eyes. "Prince Dustin Zachariah Morozov." He whispers so I could only hear it.
"Prince Dustin Zachariah Morozov." I smiled back and confirmed our son's name. I kissed Dustin on his forehead.
Aleksander turned to Genya. "Tell the healer we named him Prince Dustin Zachariah."
Genya nodded and left Aleksander and I alone.
"I love you Aleksander."
"I love you too Alina, and now, I also love our son Dustin Zachariah." Aleksander replies and holds Dustin's tiny hand. "How are you feeling?"
I looked up at Aleksander. "Fantastic! I have our little darkling in my arms, and you holding me. Nothing cane ruin my happiness. Thank you for helping me through it last night."
Aleksander chuckles at my response. "I will always be there for you and our little darkling, without hesitation."
I was going to say something but the clinic door opened.
"Uncle is here! Where is Prince Dustin Zachariah?" Ivan says enthusiastically.
I giggle at Ivan. I haven't seen him not act so tough, he is showing his carefree side at the moment. "Want to hold him?" I asked him.
Ivan smiles at me and nodded his head. He sits on the chair beside my bed and I pass Dustin to Aleksander, so he can give him to Ivan.
"Hello your highness. Aren't you handsome. Look at that smile... I bet all the girls will drawl on you when you grow up. I'll teach you the tricks." Ivan winks at Dustin in his arms.
Aleksander glared at Ivan. "Teach him inappropriate and foolish things Ivan, and I promise you, I will rip you to pieces."
"Yes Moi Tsar." Ivan replies and nods his head at Aleksander. "I almost forgot. Everyone wants to have a look at their little prince. They have been standing and waiting outside the palace walls, since they found out Moya Tsaritsa was giving birth."
Aleksander took a deep breath. "Get the balcony ready. Their royal family will be there when their queen is feeling better." Aleksander says.
The balcony is only used when the royals are going to give an announcement to their civilians. It is rarely used. I am guessing this will be one of those rare moments.
I sat up. "I'm gonna take a shower."
Aleksander immediately carried me bridal style and pecked my lips.
"I can walk myself to our bathroom." I told him and pouted.
Aleksander chuckled and started walking out of the clinic. "Ivan! Bring my little darkling to our chamber!"
"Yes Moi Tsar!" Ivan replied and was walking behind us now.
Aleksander walked me all the way to our chamber and when Ivan opened the door for us, with Dustin in his other arm, I saw Genya blocking the doorway.
"Genya?" Ivan said, eyeing Genya. "What are you doing here?"
"I was fixing Prince Dustin's crib and stuff in their lounge room. I bet our king and queen will want their newborn son near them at all times, so I made half their lounge room, the baby room." Genya replied grinning.
"Thank you Genya." Aleksander smiled at Genya.
Genya grinned and bowed at us. "Well anything for my little handsome nephew!"
~2 years ago~
"Ivan!" I reached out my hand as Ivan kept tossing my son, Dustin, in the air.
We are in the throne room discussing or we were discussing the rebels, till my baby, Dustin came running into the throne room.
Well he isn't exactly a baby anymore, but in my eyes and heart he will always be my baby.
Dustin is now two about to turn three. He looks like Aleksander more than me, but Aleksander insisted he has my stubbornness.
Dustin has my dark brown hair, kindness and stubbornness, but he has Aleksander's quartz gray eyes, smirk, smile, protectiveness, anger, and humor.
Ivan chuckled, "Relax, I won't drop the little prince." and cooed at Dustin and held him in his arms.
Dustin is giggling and yelling, "Higher, Uncle Ivan!"
"Honey..." I nervously bit my lip as I turned to my husband.
Aleksander smiled, kissing my forehead then headed to Ivan. "Alright, give me back my son, before you kill him."
Ivan put Dustin down and then Dustin ran to Aleksander.
Aleksander spun him around and kissed his cheek.
"Daddy! Daddy! Again!" Dustin insisted.
Aleksander chuckled and placed Dustin down. "If I spin you again, you will get sick. I don't want my little darkling getting ill, now would I?"
"But daddy..." Dustin pouted and crossed his arms looking up at Aleksander.
I walked up to them and picked Dustin up in my arms. I kissed his cheeks and he kissed me back on both my cheeks.
Aleksander came behind me and placed his arm around my waist.
"Daddy! Show me your darkness!" Dustin insisted.
Aleksander gave a small laugh and placed his free hand in front of Dustin and I. Letting the darkness dance on the palm of his hand.
Dustin followed Aleksander's movement, but nothing came. Dustin frowned at his hand. He has always been fascinated with either my light or Aleksander's darkness.
"You will get to do that soon, my little darkling. You just have to wait." Aleksander says to Dustin.
"I want to do it now, and I want to go to school." Dustin pouted then looked up at me. "Please show me your light mommy."
I smiled and put Dustin on the ground, and I sat on the ground so we are facing each other.
Dustin sat in front of me. I put both my palms out and held them in front of me.
When my light was shining, Dustin placed his hand on my palms and smiled when he felt the heat.
"Daddy, what is my power?" Dustin asked Aleksander.
Aleksander sat next to Dustin and put him on his lap. Dustin leaned into Aleksander's chest and played with his kefta.
"We can find out right now if you like." Aleksander smiled at Dustin.
Dustin grinned at Aleksander and kissed his cheeks. "Yes please daddy!"
Ivan kneeled on the ground. "Moi Tsar, the rebels?"
"Who are the rebels daddy?"
Aleksander gave a sad smile to Dustin. "They are bad people. They do not support our rule, son. They do not cooperate with the way things are being done. Uncle Ivan and I have been tracking them down, but we haven't found all of them. That is why mommy and I tell you not to accept anything or talk to anyone who aren't Uncle Ivan or Aunt Genya, along with mommy and I."
"What if I help you and Uncle Ivan find the rebels. I can scare them and tell them to co-co-coor-pr-ai-." Dustin says, struggling to say cooperate.
"Cooperate. Co - o - pe - rate." I helped Dustin say cooperate, he smiled at me.
"What mommy said."
"They are hiding really well." Ivan says.
"They are hiding, because my daddy and mommy is powerful and strong! I think they are scardy cats! We should show them who's boss!" Dustin says and stands up from Aleksander's lap.
"They are scardy cats! See my nephew is only two and he is already fit to be king! With his brain we can find those filthy rebels!" Ivan says and high fives Dustin.
Aleksander stands up and walks to his throne chair, sitting down and thinking of something. I stand up and stay were I am.
Dustin starts to walk off. "Where are you're going my little darkling?" Aleksander asks Dustin as he is in front of the throne room door.
"I'm going to find those weak rebels for you daddy!" Dustin says standing tall and facing, Aleksander, Ivan and I.
He looked so cute. He is only the size of my leg and he is acting like he can take down the whole world.
"Oh no you're not! Get back here so we can see what your power is!" Aleksander says.
Dustin didn't hesitate and ran to Aleksander, standing in front of him.
Aleksander grabbed his wrist and whispered something to Dustin. Dustin was smiling the whole time.
"Daddy, did you make the room dark again?" Dustin asked.
Aleksander chuckled, "No son, just relax and let go if you feel something."
Within seconds, pools of light and darkness filled the room. Ivan was next to me and gasped.
I looked at him. "What is it?"
"It is impossible for a grisha to have two powers, but since moi tsar and you are very powerful, the prince is a sun summoner and a darkling." Ivan says to me.
I looked up and saw Aleksander looking proud and happy for his son. He let go of Dustin's arm and spun him around whispering words to him.
I didn't hear what he said to Dustin, but whatever it was it made Dustin really happy, because Dustin is laughing his head off with his father.
It is a sight I always love to see. My husband and son laughing together.
Dustin ran to me and hugged my legs. "Mommy! I can control light and darkness!"
"I know! I am so happy for you sweetie." I picked Dustin up and kissed him.
Dustin hugged me, his arms around my neck and whispered. "I love you mommy, and daddy does too."
I looked up at Aleksander and he winked at me, causing me to blush.
~Present~
Dustin isn't going to school yet, but Aleksander teaches Dustin how to use his powers in the afternoon.
Dustin is four now and he is starting to look handsome, like his father. He is up to my hips now and I miss his baby size.
The young grisha girls who go to school will sometimes go to the lake during the afternoon to watch Dustin and his father practice using their powers.
Dustin made a best friend and they are the same age. His name is Jerome and he isn't starting school yet like Dustin. They hang out a lot and were probably meant to be best friends since they were born.
They will always try to pull pranks on the grisha, sometimes Genya. But they get away with Genya's fury when Dustin kisses her cheek.
Jerome is a Heartrender and he has blonde hair and green eyes. He is really cute, but when I tell him that, he corrects me and says that he is not cute but handsome.
Every morning, Dustin and Jerome will do combat training with Botkin. They are so determined to knock Botkin off his feet, but every time they don't, they will keep trying.
I feel bad for Botkin, him versus the prince and his best friend. They make a good team though. They almost had Botkin, but he was just too strong for them.
I am sitting on Aleksander's lap in our chamber lounge room, acting all lovey dovey, till someone knocks on our chamber door.
"Come in!" Aleksander yells sounding annoyed.
The door opens and reveals Ivan. "Moi Tsar, Moya Tsaritsa." He bows.
"What is it Ivan, that you had to interrupt my alone time with my wife?" Aleksander asks sounding impatient and annoyed.
Ivan clears his throat. "Sorry Moi Tsar, but there is an issue with the prisoned rebel in the dungeons."
Aleksander raised an eyebrow at Ivan and tightened his grip on my waist. "What is it now?"
"He killed a guard with the strings he found in the dungeon. Choked the poor guard dead." Ivan says.
Aleksander takes a deep breath. "Kill him and send his body to Sean. Tell Sean to take it to Nikolai. If his rebels will not cooperate, so be it."
Sean is the ex- rebel who is Aleksander's spy and helped him take down half the rebel posts.
Our chamber doors opens again, this time revealing my son.
"Hi mommy, Hey dad!" Dustin smiles at Aleksander and I, and takes a seat on the coffee table.
"Dustin off the table. Sit on a chair if you have too, not the table." I scolded him and he nodded, giving me an innocent grin.
He climbed onto the couch Aleksander and I are sitting on, and wriggled his way to get on the couch fully.
It was so cute I quietly said "aww" and Aleksander kissed me on the lips for a few seconds till Dustin said "eww."
"Ivan, your still here. Why?" Aleksander told Ivan.
"Oh uhh! Yes. I will deal with the rebel now." Ivan says and walks over to Dustin.
Ivan gave Dustin a huge smile and ruffled his hair, to which Dustin quickly slapped his hand away and immediately smoothed it back down. Glaring at Ivan. I shook my head in amusement.
"Uncle Ivan, don't mess with me. I can easily beat you in a fight." Dustin says to Ivan in his cute four year old voice.
"Yikes. I'll take that challenge." Ivan replies and pinches Dustin's cheek, making Dustin jump on Ivan.
Ivan fell on the carpet and Dustin was punching Ivan's chest, while sitting on his stomach. Ivan was laughing the whole time and Dustin was determined to beat him up, but failed.
I felt bad for my son, he kept punching and frowning when Ivan laughs.
Aleksander was laughing his head off and cheering his son on. "That's my little darkling! Beat Uncle Ivan up! Show him never to mess with you, my son, again!"
"Dustin sweetie, that's enough. Uncle Ivan has work to do." I said and got off Aleksander's lap, but was pulled back into him.
"Your not going anywhere, darling." Aleksander whispers to me.
Ivan sat up and Dustin was on his lap now, still punching him.
I sighed. "Dustin Zachariah! Get off of your Uncle right now!" I yelled.
Dustin stopped punching Ivan and turned his head and faced me. "But mommy, he deserved it."
"He sure did, but he has a rebel to take care of son." Aleksander tells Dustin.
Dustin sighed. "Fine. I'm going to my room and can Jerome join me?"
"Of course he can." I replied. Dustin's room is opposite our room, Aleksander wanted Dustin close to us at all times.
Dustin got off Ivan's lap and before he left our room, he kicked Ivan in the stomach. "Never mess with me, Uncle Ivan!" He said and went to Aleksander and I, giving us a kiss on the cheeks.
"Love you mommy!" Dustin says and runs out of our room.
Ivan chuckled and bowed to us before he left. Aleksander got up and put me over his shoulder. He went to our chamber door and locked it, then walked me to our bed.
He dropped me on our bed and hovered on top of me. "Finally, alone at last."
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. I kissed him passionately but then he kissed me desperately.
I pulled back and giggled at him, and he stroked my cheeks. "We have an amazing son." He whispers to me and starts kissing down my neck.
"We sure do." I replied and brought his face back to mine.