The Search
Chapter One
The Twins
It was an arduous labour, though Anastasia finally gave birth to her and James' twins.
A boy and a girl.
The happiness was not to last, for they had to be hidden away.
"Baroness, from how cautious you are being and the state of your health, I presume you are with child?" Cobra Commander asked.
She swallowed. "Yes, Commander, I am."
"Destro is the father, correct?"
They had both decided to elope. If they kept up hiding that they were a couple from the head of Cobra for that long, it shouldn't interfere with their work.
If they had an ordinary life, Anastasia couldn't see being with anyone else but James, and James felt the same way.
When she took the pregnancy test and it turned positive, she couldn't be happier.
"Yes, sir, he is."
"Usually I find this a hindrance," he growled. Commander wasn't fond of giving days off or holidays. Ever since working for Cobra, Anastasia couldn't find much time for herself. "But Dr. Mindbender has lots of projects on the go, and I may find use for your offspring."
Her eyes widen. The Commander was an extreme man, but she couldn't believe what she just heard. She didn't want to know what horrid experiments Commander and Mindbender would do on her baby.
"You may be the head of Cobra, Commander," she began. "But you will never lay a hand on my child."
It was foolish to talk back to a man like him, though Commander needed her resources and skills. That was also how Mindbender survived most of the time when Commander was on his case.
Months later, she discovered she was having twins. Much to both James and Commander's delight.
James cooed as he held his daughter, their son in the bassinet.
"Don't interact with them that much," she told her husband, weary from labour. "You'll get attached."
They discussed their plans for giving the children away. To give them their best chance. Away from Cobra, and the Commander.
"We still need to give them names," said James.
Her brow narrowed. "I don't think you understand when I said 'you'll get attached'."
James looked to their son. "His name will be easy. James McCullen, the twenty-fifth. His middle name will be after your father, Aleksandr."
He turned his glance. "James Aleksandr McCullen XXV."
He looked at the other twin in his arms. "Arabella. My Arabella. Arabella Olga McCullen."
When they discussed baby names, Anastasia brought up Olga. With Olga as her middle name, this was a great way of having both worlds.
She looked away. "They will have a good life?"
He took his wife's hand into his own. "Of course they will… I found a good couple in Australia that will take good care of them."
She looked at her husband, gently squeezing his hand. "I wanted this, you know. A life with you and them. But we can't have it."
Her husband squeezed back her hand, his eyes tearing up. "I know."
"Now hurry, before Commander comes."
With the help of a guard, the guard and James left with the twins.
Anastasia turned away on her pillow, and felt her eyes grow moist.
