Author's Notes

I am going to go ahead and let everyone know the last chapter is the last we are going to see an Ivan/Alicia pov or anything about them until the end of the fic itself. Also this first scene of the fic, I am listening to the Tarzan Score "One Family" I do not know why it definitely illuminates the love of Astrid and Viktor.

18

Viktor and I left the hotel and headed over to my car. We were both walking with anger and other emotions. I used my car's electronic key to unlock the car. Viktor was polite enough to open the driver's door for me and let me in before walking around to the other side and getting in himself. I don't even know why I was so angry. Maybe it was because I thought that my aunt and Ivan were done, they had left their lustful ways in the past. My next move was to angrily put my keys in the ignition, but I paused in my movements and looked at Viktor to see him just staring at the front of my car with anger in his eyes. His knuckles were white as they rubbed across the top of his pants.

I could only imagine the pain he was feeling. I reached over and placed my hand over his left fist. He stopped and looked at me. My anger washed away as my eyes stared at his hurt features.

"Tell me how you feel." I said and he just growls and looks away.

"My dad is such a fucking hypocrite. To say we cannot be together but then goes and sleeps with your aunt." he said slowly shaking his head and looking away. "I feel so torn." I stared at him for a moment before glancing at the back of my car.

"Hey come sit in the back with me." I said moving to open my door. Viktor looked at me confused, but slowly followed my actions and we both moved to sit in the back seat. Once there, I gently grabbed his shoulders and pulled him over to me so his head could rest against my body. He didn't even fight it, he just melted into me and we lied back against my side of the window. I thought about what we had just experienced and felt I somewhat understood.

"What they have together, it is not lust." I said gently and he looked up at me with deep sensual eyes. "It is love." He winced gently and just leaned in holding me tighter to him. I wrapped my arms around him gently running my hand over his head.

"They couldn't stay away from each other… like we cannot stay away from each other." I explained lightly. I knew it didn't entirely make him feel better, but he wasn't so tense.

"All my life I've only known to fight with these." he said holding his fist up in front of him a bit. I stared at his hand for a second gently resting my hand over it.

"And now you have me." I replied and he sat his head up again, staring at me gently.

"And now I have you." he replied and we smiled gently at each other and he leaned in to me kissing me passionately and lovingly and I replied wrapping my arms around his neck softly. When the day was over, Viktor and I separated. He had to talk to his father and I had to go see my brother.

I was at the hospital staring at him with wet eyes as he was awake, and propped up by his bed. He looked so tired and defeated.

"Hey don't start crying then I'm gonna emotional and cry." Adonis said. He looked better today. I gave a weak smile.

"The doctors said in a few weeks you can go home. Are you going to keep training?" I asked lightly and he just looked forward, his eyes showing discouragement.

"I don't know. Right now I kind of don't want to think about anything." he said. He shook his head. "Can't believe he got me after the bell." His face was different colors, his swelling gone down from his eye.

I shushed him gently resting my hand on his shoulder.

"Do not think about that right now. You need to keep your stress down." I replied and he nodded giving a weak smile before his eyes looked down to my hand. The light flashed off the ring and his eyes caught it immediately. I tensed now and pulled my hand back, but his arm was just fast enough to lightly catch my forearm. His eyes showed immediate confusion as he looked from my hand to my face.

"Yo, what's this?" he asked. I shrugged pulling my hand back.

"Nothing. Just a ring." I replied. He side eyed me a bit.

"Just a ring. I know just a ring. That ain't just no ring. You getting married?" he asked and I just stared at him for a moment before looking down at the ground softly. I couldn't hide anything from him anymore. I then looked back up at him with calm and steady eyes.

"Yes. Viktor Drago and I have been dating long before I knew you two were fighting. He and I are going to marry." I replied. As I spoke he slowly shook his head, eyes watering now as he looked away confused and lost. I just watched his face for a second.

"Leave." he said. My body tightened at his words. We needed to talk about this.

"Donnie-"

"GET OUT! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU RIGHT NOW! I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" he shouted angrily. My body jerked a bit at his words and I felt my own tears swelling in my eyes. Donnie's lips quivered as he held back his own tears and I just swallowed and turned and sped from the room. Bianca was just coming back in.

"Astrid?" she asked as I just moved past her and left down the hall. Tears streamed down my face as I began to sob and run down the hall. People looked at me sympathetically as if knowing I had lost someone. I had rushed out into the cold, my jacket on my arm. Once I reached the car, I touched the side of it, leaned over it and cried out in pain.

My tears were really hot in this temperature. I hurried and put my coat on and got in the car. I couldn't believe this was happening. My phone was vibrating and I saw my aunt calling. Ignore. Viktor calls right after. Accept.

"Hello?" I asked sniffling.

"What's wrong?" he immediately asks, and I just cry even harder now. When the moon was up, I just sat on my couch, my hair swept over my shoulder. Viktor came back from the kitchen with one of my mugs in his hand. He handed it to me and I smiled up at him.

"Thank you." I replied and he nodded sitting beside me. We both had a rough day.

"I am sorry your brother yelled at you." he said rubbing the top of my knee. I sniffled some.

"I am sorry your father still yelled at you." I replied. He nodded slowly.

"He doesn't want his life to become mine. Afraid something will happen to split us up like he and your aunt." he explained lowly and I looked down thinking about his words. "And Balboa is still on his mind. He is the blame for everything even though he cannot look in the mirror at himself. He is trying to get back in the good graces of my mother."

He scowled some and I looked back up at him.

"Your mother?" I asked and he nodded slowly.

"I don't understand why. They never cared about us- she never cared. And now my father wants to kiss their ass so he can rise up again into fame and glory." I sipped my hot chocolate as I listened.

"And what do you want?" I asked lowly and he looked back at me with some sort of realization.

"No one's really ever asked me that who cares for me. Not my dad, not promoters or coaches. Just you." he said. I smiled gently at him and he shook his head.

"I want to fight. I like to fight. And I want to win." he said and I swallowed some at his words.

"And you will. And I will be behind you every step of the way." I promised and he smiled at me as I smiled back.

"I have to start training again. Still have more fights scheduled… when I am not fighting or training, we discuss wedding?" he asked. I nodded happily.

"Okay." I replied. That thought alone, brought happiness into me even after being turned away by my twin. The thought of waking up to him every day for the rest of my life made me so happy.

"Will you come to a few of my training sessions and fights?" he asked now a bit more encouraged. Now I was worried.

"Wait, what about the public? I can only imagine the type of scandal that will happen if we go public." I replied. He shrugged.

"What scandal? I don't care about what others think. My fighting alone will pave my way in the arena." he said. I shook my head now scooting closer to him.

"But you should. What if you aren't booked for a fight. A lot of people will feel betrayed because of what your father did to mine and that could have consequences we don't know about." I reminded. He inhaled sharply and looked away.

"I don't want you hurt." he said and then looked back at me. "We will keep our relationship quiet for a bit longer. But still come to my matches?" I figured it wouldn't be too hard to see his matches unnoticed. I nodded smiling warmly.

"Deal." I replied.