This is very much a filler chapter. Please don't be too mad at me! I have big plans for the next one, so I promise that this is not a signifier of how the story is going to look from here on out. Thank you all for reading and please leave a review!
Chapter 9: Where it all Begins
It was their last day in Greece. It had become the best vacation the family had ever taken together. Ivan had been preoccupied with his new fling, Anik. Mason had met some guys playing soccer and gained some new friends that showed him around. Zoy and Paul did most of the tours through the ruins, and Dimitri was enjoying his time with his family whom he hadn't seen in so long.
"How does it feel being an empty nester, now?" Ivan asked Dimitri.
"I don't really know yet. I feel like I won't realize it for a few years. Christian tried to tell me to get back out there and try dating again, but I just don't know if I could do that, yet."
Oksana frowned at her son. "Rose would not be happy that you were just sitting around by yourself, moping about."
"Mama!" Viktoria exclaimed.
"Oh, hush. Dimka, there's nothing wrong with not wanting to date, but don't do it because of Roza. She would want you to be happy."
"Mama has a point, even if she lost her niceness many years ago." Sonya said.
"Well, I'll think about it. I'll be all alone at home soon enough."
"Ah, don't be sad, Dimka. I know your family is all gross and happy together, but you'll realize how nice it is not to clean up after them once they're gone!" Karlina giggled.
"Well, I'm sad that this vacation is coming to an end. I am so happy I got to see all of you. I know Mason and Ivan have missed you guys."
They were all just finishing up packing and cleaning the villa. All that was left was for the kids to show up.
Mason was hugging the guys he had been playing with. Mason actually felt a small tear form in his eye. Even though it had only been a week, he had actually enjoyed the time he was with this group.
"Hey Tommy, if you ever find yourself in Canada, you better find me! I'll give you a good time. And tell your mom thanks again for that amazing meal yesterday."
"Of course, Mason. It has been great having you here. Hopefully you will come visit Greece again." With a hug, Mason departed from the others to meet with his brother and cousins.
Ivan was in Anik's bed. After a week of flirting, drinking, and fun meals together, Ivan had decided he was going to leave Greece with a bang, literally. Ivan refused to talk about what it would be like after leaving, and he knew that he wasn't interested in trying to keep things up with Anik after being gone. Both of them enjoyed each other's embrace, allowing themselves the freedom of a romantic bliss. This was Ivan's first time with someone, and he felt embarrassed when telling Anik. Anik only smiled, kissed him gently on the nose, and told him he would be taken care of.
Ivan couldn't have been more happy with how Anik took care of him.
Afterwards, Anik walked Ivan to the bar they had first met, where Ivan would go his separate way to meet with his family and get ready to leave. They held hands the whole way, and Ivan could feel a sense of glowing happiness, but once they arrived at the bar, the happiness faded and sadness came over.
"I'll never forget you, Anik."
"And I you, Ivan. This has been a magical week with you." They kissed and hugged. Ivan walked away from Anik, looking back and waving every few feet, feeling awkward and sad, but also extremely happy to admit to his cousins and brother that he had gone all the way!
When they were at the airport, there were tearful goodbyes. Dimitri's family would be leaving first, their flight was earlier. Oksana began giving her son kisses, 10 per cheek and doing the same to the boys. "Oh, I will miss you! We must do this again. We shouldn't ever be apart for too long."
"Yes, Babushka." The boys said in unison as she was giving them their kisses.
Ivan and Mason exchanged hugs with their uncles, aunts, and cousins. "I can't believe you got laid." Paul whispered to Ivan as they hugged. "Cousin of legends, right here. Don't forget to hit us up every once in a while." Ivan nodded, his own tears beginning to cloud his eyes.
Mason and Ivan weren't extremely emotional people. Their father had given them a happy home even after their mother had passed, and never shied away from expressing his own sorrow and other emotions. So while they weren't the type to cry over everything, having to be separated from their family made a big impact. Much to their surprise, their cousins (except Oleksi) were tearing up as well.
With the final call of their flight they all exchanged hugs once more and then their family piled onto the plane, leaving back to Russia.
Raptor was sitting, but his body pressed hard into Ivan's leg, as if he knew how hard it was to lose family. Or maybe he just knew something was wrong and wanted to comfort Ivan. Ivan reached down and scratched the top of his head and told him he was a good boy.
The next to go was Dimitri and Mason. Ivan would have to wait one more hour before he flew to Turkey and met with his grandfather. He hugged his father first. Ivan still hadn't quite reached Dimitri's height, but they embraced each other with strong arms. Dimitri didn't want to let go. His sons were his connection to Rose, and them leaving him meant that Rose was really gone. He would no longer be able to look at his sons and see her beautiful face in their smiles and in their eyes. Suddenly, it was all too much and Dimitri began to ball into Ivan's shoulder.
"I love you, son. You are going to do great things. Your mother would be so proud of you. I know she's watching over you. If you are ever in trouble or if you ever need anything, you do not hesitate to call me."
Ivan nodded, somewhat shocked at his fathers reaction, but it warmed his heart knowing that he always had someone in his corner. Make that two someone's because Mason was up next. His face was red and his eyes were glossy, but he refused to let the tears fall.
"When I start playing soccer, you better be at at least one of my games every year, okay?"
"I can agree to that."
They hugged for a good ten seconds. Mason looked down at Raptor and smiled. "You keep him out of trouble, okay?" Raptor tipped his head to the side, as if confused, making Mason and Ivan laugh at the cute look on such a 'ferocious' dog.
"I love you, bro."
"I love you, too."
Ivan stared out the window for a few minutes after the plane had left, and he suddenly felt all of the doubt crash into his stomach. Maybe he wasn't cut out for this. Maybe he should have just gone to college or gone straight into working. He took a deep breath as he headed to his own gate and prepared to board the plane with Raptor, who had his own seat due to being so big.
This is where it was all starting.
