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DPOV

6 months later

I smiled over at mama as she sang softly to herself. We were both in the kitchen baking black bread for Roza, but mama had been off in her own world all morning.

She caught me watching her and flushed slightly under my gaze. "What are you making fun of your poor mama for, Dimka?" she asked with a light laugh.

"I'm not making fun," I promised with a chuckle as I continued kneading the dough in my hands. "You look happy," I observed after a moment's silence.

She grinned, tears in her eyes as her gaze met mine. "How could I not be?" she asked. "Look at how beautifully all my children have turned out. I am a lucky woman, to be surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren."

I smiled, reaching out with a doughy hand to hold hers. "And two more on the way any day now," I reminded her. My stomach knotted at the thought. We were so close; soon, I was going to be a father.

Her smile grew before he eyes flickered towards the living room and her voice lowered. "How is Roza?" she asked softly.

I cautiously peeked around the corner, careful not to be caught. Roza hated my constant checking on her and mama smiled in amusement at my caution.

I peered into the living room to find Roza lying on the couch, her belly protruding heavily even under the thickness of the blankets covering her. She was flicking through the television channels in irritation before she huffed, turning the TV off and reaching for the pile of books and magazines I had left by her side.

I came back into the kitchen and shook my head in amusement. "She's still sulking," I told mama and she chuckled.

"We shouldn't laugh," she added and I nodded, laughing softly despite myself. "She was never going to do well on bed rest, was she?" mama commented wryly.

I shook my head, my smile growing at the memory of Roza's face when the doctor had told her that she had to take it easy and lay down until the babies came. With her size, she was finding it increasingly difficult to be mobile anyway, but up until that point she had swatted away any assistance as she waddled around the house. But after that news, she had to rely on me to carry her up and down between our bed and the couch, depending on where in the house I was. She was miserable about the arrangement and she complained the whole way about how fat and swollen and uncomfortable she was. The sitting around was well and truly driving her crazy. To be fair, she was very big. It couldn't be comfortable.

As the days had gone on, Roza had grown even crankier. Her mood was definitely not helped by babushka's constant comments about how she was only going to get bigger. It also didn't help that she was always trying to shove strange herbal tea concoctions down her throat. I'd actually run into the bedroom once at the sound of Roza yelling to find that babushka had swapped out the drink I'd made for her. I chuckled at the memory. At that point, mama had decided to separate the two of them.

Mama and I placed the black bread in the oven and I went out to the living room to visit Roza. I lifted her blanket wrapped feet and sat down, placing them back over my lap.

"How are you doing?" I asked, leaning forward to tenderly stroke her belly over the bundle of blankets.

"Great," she snapped, slapping the magazine down to glare at me. "My back hurts, I'm exhausted and I have the heartburn from hell, I need to pee constantly because these babies are sitting on my bladder. And to top it all off, I'm bored out of my mind because I'm not allowed to do anything!"

"What can I do?" I asked, rubbing her swollen feet through the blankets.

"Nothing," she said with a huff. She closed her eyes and let out a soft groan as I continued rubbing her feet. "Sorry," she said after a moment, her eyes falling open to meet mine. "I know it's not your fault."

"It kind of is," I said with a wry smile and she chuckled.

"Yeah, it is," she said with a cheeky smile. "But I volunteered, so I'll let you off the hook."

I nodded, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss on her forehead. It was hard manoeuvring around her bump, but I managed to come at it from the side a little.

"I can't help but think that women drew the short straw on this whole baby-making business," she said. Her eyes fell closed and she grimaced, shifting uncomfortably in what I now knew as the telltale sign that the babies were kicking around in there. I reached out my hand instinctively, eager to feel there incredibly strong little kicks. I shook my head slightly in wonder at the feeling of the small nudges beneath my fingers. It never ceased to amaze me. "I mean," she continued as I moved to nuzzle against her belly, "you just get laid, and then I have to do the rest. God is definitely not a woman, Ariana Grande."

I chuckled, my chin resting on her belly as I looked up to face her. "You're not wrong," I replied. "Although I don't know who that person is."

She rolled her eyes. "Either way, it's bullshit."

"Will it help if I tell you I think you're amazing?" I asked, smiling up at her adoringly.

She smiled slightly, her hand coming up to run through my hair. "Maybe," she said with a cheeky smile. "I don't know, I guess you'll have to try it out."

I grinned, turning my face to press a kiss to her belly. "You, Roza Belikova," I said, peppering another kiss, "are an incredible woman." I moved up her body, showering every inch of her with kisses. "You amaze me every day," she giggled as I continued upwards, my body coming to rest to the side of her on the couch. "And I love you and your belly even more than I ever thought was possible." I kissed each of her eyelids lightly. "I love that you are growing a little piece of us," my hands moved to stroke her belly lovingly, "right here in this beautiful belly." I pressed a kiss to her lips, "And," I continued, pressing another kiss to her smiling lips, "I think you are the sexiest pregnant woman I have ever laid eyes on."

She giggled, pulling my face to hers by my hair.

"Gross," Vika complained and my head snapped up.

"Privacy, Vika," I snapped in Russian.

She rolled her eyes. "You're in the living room."

I blushed, shifting my body up on the couch until I was sitting upright again with Roza's feet draped over my lap.

"Get back here," Roza pouted. "You were taking my mind off the–" she winced again and my hands fluttered helplessly over her.

"You should give her a bath," Vika suggested, gazing at Roza in concern. "Karo always said a hot bath worked wondered in the last few weeks."

I nodded, looking over towards Roza. "How does that sound?" I asked her, my hand reaching out to stroke her cheek gently.

She nodded, her eyes closed as she shifted around on the couch in discomfort.

"I'll go run one and then come and get you," I told her as I stood and tucked her feet back onto the couch gently. "Don't go anywhere," I added wryly and she rolled her eyes.

I chuckled as I made my way towards the bathroom and turned the bath on, carefully checking its temperature before I put the plug in and waited for it to start filling. I pulled out some ylang-ylang oil drops babushka had given me and added a few to the bathwater as I waited. They were supposed to have a relaxing effect, so hopefully it would help our little ones relax in there.

When it was close to done I left to go collect Roza. She was still in the living room, chatting idly with Vika.

"Ready?" I asked and she nodded.

I bent down to pick her up, which really was not such an easy feat now as it once was. I grunted, pulling her closer to my chest as I tried to wrap my arms securely around her.

"Bit heavy?" I looked over to see babushka standing in the doorway, eying us in amusement as I shifted Roza in my arms.

Roza shot her a glare as Vika and I held back laughter. Roza's size had definitely been a sore spot. I quickly moved towards the bathroom before things could escalate.

"Honestly," Roza huffed as I carried her away. "When I'm back in fighting shape I'm teaching that old witch a lesson."

I bit back my laugh, trying my hardest to look down at her with a straight face. "Uh-huh," I answered after a moment.

She glared at me. "Don't laugh," she snapped. "I mean it."

I shook my head in amusement as I placed her down and moved to turn the bath taps off. "Are you ever going to try one of her teas?" I asked as I moved to close and lock the door. "She said it might help make it go faster."

"Have you smelt that stuff?" she asked incredulously. "She's trying to poison me!" I met her gaze in amusement and she huffed. "And I swear, Dimitri, there was an honest to God twig in that tea the last time she tried to give it to me."

I chortled. "No there wasn't," I said as I gently started to undress her.

"The woman's messing with me," she complained, her voice coming out muffled as I lifted her sweater over her head. "She just wants to see me drink some crazy shit and laugh about it later."

"The paranoia," I said with a chuckle. "She's not out to get you, Roza."

"Yes she is," she replied stubbornly. "I can see it in her eyes. She's lulled you all into a false sense of security, but she's out for revenge."

I bent to pull her sweatpants down and stifled a laugh. "Revenge?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes!" she replied, reaching out to steady herself as she lifted one leg, and then the other. "You didn't see the look in her eyes last time I questioned those 'visions' of hers. She's been waiting for the perfect moment to pounce!"

I bit my lip as I stared at her, fighting a smile.

She glared at me, grumbling under her breath as I reached out and carefully helped her step into the bath.

"How's the temperature?" I asked.

"Fine," she replied curtly and I shook my head.

"Sorry, Roza," I replied, fighting a smile. "You're right, she probably is messing with you."

She harrumphed, but her annoyance quickly turned into a groan as she lowered herself slowly into the water.

I studied her body in amazement as the water swished around her. I reached out instinctively, my hand falling on her bump under the water.

She looked at me in amusement. "Do you ever go more than two seconds without touching it?"

I winked at her. "Like I said, it is a beautiful belly."

She smiled at me sweetly despite her annoyance.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her after a minute.

"Okay," she said with a sigh. "The bath is helping, but I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that I'm not going to be comfortable again until they're out." She grimaced. "And even then, there's a whole lotta water that needs to go under the bridge until that can happen."

"Are you nervous about the birth?"

"Am I nervous about the birth?" she asked in a mocking tone.

I smiled, "Probably a silly question."

"I used to be very into the fact that you're this big manly god before," she said with an eye roll. "But now, with your spawn growing to unprecedented sizes inside my belly, I'm suddenly not so sure."

I rubbed her belly soothingly as my eyes raked over her appreciatively. "Will it help if I say you look like some sort of fertility goddess?" I asked with a smile. "Like you're body was made for this." My gaze rested on her breasts and she laughed.

"Just when you thought they couldn't get any bigger," she joked.

I shook my head, staring at them in disbelief. "They are definitely... sizeable," I said with a chuckle.

She rolled her eyes. "Just what every woman wants to hear."

"They're glorious," I corrected, leaning forward to kiss her tenderly. "You're glorious." She rolled her eyes again and I leaned back, staring at her intently. "I mean it, Roza," I said seriously. "How can you think I don't find you beautiful like this. You're growing our children. You're making my wildest dreams come true." I gazed at her lovingly. "You're the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes upon. I cannot believe I got so lucky."

She smiled at that, the water sloshing around her as she leaned forward to kiss me.

"I hate to ruin the moment, comrade," she said after a moment, gazing at me apologetically. "But I have to pee." I chuckled as she sighed, "For the two hundredth time today."

I stood to help pull her out of the water and quickly dried her off, wrapping the thick cotton towel around her shoulders.

"I'm going to get you some fresh clothes," I said, turning towards the door. I came to a stop as I reached the door, turning back to look at her. "Unless you need my help..."

She glared at me and I raised my hands in surrender, backing out of the bathroom slowly before I rushed into the bedroom to get her some warm clothes.

I came back a minute later to find Roza still sitting on the toilet, staring at me sheepishly.

"Don't laugh," she demanded as I entered.

I furrowed my brows at her as I approached and placed her clothes by the sink. "What's wrong?"

She huffed, staring up at me in annoyance. "I..." she flushed bright scarlet. "I broke the toilet seat," she admitted, looking at me in mortification. "It just... cracked."

"Oh," my eyebrows raised in surprise as I reached out, helping to lift her up and quickly helping her change. I worked at keeping my expression straight as she stared at the ground in embarrassment.

"It's a very old toilet," I tried to console, but my voice was laced with amusement despite my best efforts.

She glared at me. "Don't," she threatened. "Don't you dare tell Yeva."

"I'll tell them I did it," I promised, now unable to keep the smile off my face. I glanced towards the cracked toilet seat and broke, erupting into a fit of laughter. "I'm sorry," I gasped out, working to get myself together as she scowled at me.

She shook her head, her head falling into her hands. "God," she moaned. "I'm so sick of this. I used to be hot, and now," she gestured towards her protruding belly. "Now I'm just a big lump who breaks seats and who my husband can barely lift."

My laughter died out and I pulled her into me, burying her face into my chest. "You're beautiful," I consoled her. "You know I think you're beautiful."

"I feel useless," she grumbled. "I used to be a badass for Vlad's sake. Yeva would quake in her boots at the old Rose. Now I can't even get off the couch."

"I still think you're a badass," I consoled. I smiled down at her scowling form. "Very, very intimidating," I agreed with a wry smile.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. The only way I could win a fight now is by sitting on someone."

I raised an eyebrow at her, fighting a smile as her eyes narrowed at me. "Don't," she warned.

"I think it's a good tactic," I said. My smile grew as I stared down at her. "It worked on the toilet seat."

"God," she groaned, shaking her head as she buried her face into my chest in embarrassment.

"Rose – 1, toilet seat – 0," I said softly. I lowered my face in her hair to muffle my laughter and she smacked my arm playfully.

"I'll sit on you if you're not careful," she warned. But when her eyes rose up to glare at me, there was humour there too.

"C'mon," I said as our laughter subsided. "Let's get you to bed."

"Unless I break that too," she grumbled and I chuckled.

As I helped her get in bed and crawled in beside her, I rolled over to rest my head on its usual place near her stomach. She sighed, her hands running absentmindedly over her stomach as she stared up at the ceiling.

"My family all said the last few weeks would be the hardest," I reminded her softly. She sighed at that, not acknowledging my statement in any way. "It's okay to not feel great," I reminded her. "It's okay to want them to be out of you now."

She nodded, biting her lower lip as tears welled in her eyes. I raised my head to hover over her, my hands reaching up to wipe tears from her eyes.

"I feel like a bad mother," she whispered after a moment. "I feel like a horrible, ungrateful person for not appreciating this lately," she sniffled, gesturing towards her bump. "For complaining about stupid things like heartburn and back pain when we wanted this for so, so long."

"You're not a bad mother, Roza," I consoled. "Lots of women feel this way at the end of their pregnancy. It's completely natural that the pregnancy is starting to wear on you." She nodded, her eyes still not meeting mine. "What's the matter?" I pressed when she was silent for a long moment.

"Dimitri, what if I'm a bad mother?" she asked suddenly.

I stared at her for a long moment, completely taken aback. "Where is this coming from?" I asked.

She sighed, her gaze finally coming to meet mine. "I just don't have the best example to go off," she admitted. "I don't know what a mother is supposed to do. What if I can't do it? What if all I do is mess these kids up?"

"You're going to be a great mother," I reassured her. "You're going to be the fierce and protective and loving woman that I married. It doesn't matter whether you had that example growing up; I certainly didn't with my father. But together, we'll figure it out."

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face, "How the hell is this supposed to work?" she asked.

"It will work because we love each other," I consoled, reaching up to gently wipe the tears from her eyes. "What better example is there to set for our children than that?"

She nodded, wiping her nose as she smiled softly. After a moment, her hand reached up to caress my hair.

"I love you, comrade," she whispered. "Always have, always will."

I returned her smile, placing a warm kiss on her temple.

"Roza, you have no idea."

Only two more chapters left :(

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