19

Days passed into weeks. Adonis was back home and Bianca and Aunt Alicia were blowing up my phone with worries and questions. 'How long have you been dating Viktor?' 'Donnie hasn't been himself?' 'Are you getting married in America?' 'I feel like I'm handling this pregnancy all on my own.' 'Have you spoken to your brother?' 'It's like he's in a dark place.' 'Please talk to him, Astrid.' 'Talk to him, dear.'

Adonis wouldn't answer his phone and that was okay. I would give him his space. He was taking his loss to Viktor hard. But that did not stop me from sending him encouraging texts to him every now and again, to show I was still here for him. Bianca sent me pictures of her ultra sounds. A girl. She was having a beautiful girl. I was talking to my aunt more as well. She wanted to talk wedding plans details. I had nothing to tell her yet…

I was watching one of Viktor's fights now as he demolished his opponent. My heart was racing and I was in a state of shock but it was not because of the violence before me or the blood everywhere. It was not because of the crowd roaring around me, but because of the positive pregnancy test I held close to my heart. My mind was a blank as I stared up at the arena. I didn't even see anyone in that ring. I just saw myself staring back at me naked and round bellied. I was gently massaging my stomach. I am the Giver. Viktor is standing behind me in this vision, his hands wrapped gently around my body as my head leans back into his warm embrace. Tears fell down my cheek immediately as I slowly got up and began to move through the aisle again, holding the test hard so nothing would knock it from my hand.

"AND VIKTOR DRAGO TAKES ANOTHER VICTORY!" the announcer yells over my head. The audience is wild, but their hard noises don't phase me and I just walk into the aisle and slowly began to walk toward the ring. I'm in a daze and no one is blocking me. But I am getting closer to the security guard who stops me and I just stopped and back away a few steps. I looked at the ring as Viktor is standing in the middle of it, his father and trainers are all around him. He's giving an interview, but I see his eyes searching the crowd for me. I swallow some and just stand there watching him hoping he finds my form.

He keeps talking until his eyes finally look to the aisle and we connect. He seems my look of shock and I sniffle some and slowly raise the positive test to him. His body freezes, his father looking at him confused before following his eyes to me. My hand shakes with the test in it. Viktor just looks at me stunned before moving from the reporter and moving beneath the ring. Hands reach out to touch Viktor as if a God is coming to them. But no, he is coming to me. His body is covered in sweat and he has minor cuts on his face as he approaches me. He already knows what he's risking by doing this. I know what he's risking by doing this. He removes his gloves and tosses them to the ground, his eyes never leaving mine as a smile comes across his face. I cry out in happiness as he takes hold of my face and kisses me hard.

Now everyone is gasping as they have no choice but to watch. My hands rest on his wrists as I replied.

"Are you really pregnant?" he asked. I nodded quickly.

"Yes." I replied and he gave a cry of joy as he pressed his forehead into mine kissing me again. His arms wrapped around me. Cameras and reporters flooded around us, but I didn't care. And from the joy in Viktor's eyes, he didn't either. He didn't care about his father's glare at the back of his head either. The papers were filled with pictures of our little display the next day. At first I was the girlfriend or the mystery love. Day later it was finally out there, written into existence. "Drago-Creed affair exposed" "Viktor Drago is dating daughter of famous Apollo Creed" "Drago son knocked up Creed daughter".

It was very hard going home without someone wanting an interview. I fought them off. But now American journalists were calling, random people were calling. All wanting to know how I could betray my father's legacy by being with the son of the man who killed him. Was I not my own woman? Am I simply my father's daughter? Viktor got mild back lash, but it was because he was winning his matches and making everyone proud.

"Honey, maybe you should come back to America for a while and stay with me. Crazy fans are in every state. I don't want anything to happen to you especially while you're pregnant." Aunt Alicia said and I sighed as I paced around my room.

"I'm not going anywhere, auntie. I'm not afraid." I replied.

"It doesn't matter if you're afraid. You are halfway across the world from me and I just don't want anything to happen to you. You have no protection or family-"

"I have Viktor." I replied and there was a short pause.

"Do you have doctors and all of that ready? Do you know where you're going to deliver the baby? You need a strong support group for this, Astrid. You are going to experience quite a lot in the next nine months and I want you to be ready." she said. I inhaled softly.

"If I need anything, I will call you." I replied.

"Okay darling." she replied. I hung up and now moved to the bathroom and just stared at myself for a moment. I honestly, didn't want a child when I was in school. I told myself I wouldn't date anyways so I wouldn't have to worry about being pregnant. I could just have my money and not worry. But now that I'm faced with it, I had much to think about.

I can't do this, I felt, before looking at my stomach and letting my hands rest on it. Yes I can. This child has an artist for a mother and a boxer for a father. He or she will always be taken care of and will always have my love.

Immediately after Viktor's fight we made our way back to my place to discuss what was to happen. I told him I did not want him to stop fighting or training.

"I am not going to let you go through a single minute of this by yourself."

"You have to. You have your days off and we can schedule doctor's appointments.

"I can't believe you're going to have a baby. We… are having a baby."

I had never seen him so happy. But I also know this is new for both of us and I knew by now the reality would set in. I needed to get out of my head for a while, so I packed a small black bag with my bathing suit and left my apartment. There was a gym not too far from here that I could go to. I sent Viktor a text of where I was going so he would know where I was. There was no journalist or reporters here or at the gym, thank god. Once inside and situated, I walked down the steps of the pool's shallow end. It was cold and new to me. I hadn't felt this in a long time.

I walked around a bit in the water merely enjoying the coolness on my skin. I stuck my hands out and just moved about. I was surprised no other children or families were here. It's usually a popular place. But I wouldn't complain.

"Mind if I join?" I heard him. I gave a light smile.

"You are supposed to be training." I said turning to him only to gasp to see he is naked and already entering the pool.

"What are you doing! You're going to get us in trouble." I said harshly.

"I like trouble." he said.

Surely there was some cameras around. I'm sure if there were it would never look good for there to be a naked man stalking a woman in a pool like a predator. I moved up to him as he was moving to me with a smirk. I looked around for any pants or swim trunks.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he wrapped his hands around my hips. His smile was so caring.

"I am being here for you." he answered.

"What?" I asked confused and he inhaled.

"Your aunt called me and reminded me of the sacrifices a woman will make to give birth to baby. I don't want you to ever think you have to sacrifice alone. Because you are not alone." he said. Immediately, my eyes softened on his face. "I can take care of you," his hand slid down to my stomach.

"Both of you." he said. I was shocked to hear my aunt called him. Maybe she could hear the stress in my voice from our last conversation. But hearing Viktor say that was the most caring and hottest thing anyone has ever said to me. But he was right to say it, because I knew I would feel like I would be handling this new event in our life all by myself. I leaned up and kissed him and he returned it. I now felt the courage to want to get in trouble with him. Maybe this was our last time to really be immature before parenthood takes us. I lifted my legs to slide out of my bikini bottoms and then my top came seconds later. Viktor smiled wide as I now tossed the outfit aside and began to swim back from him. He stalked toward me, his body dipping into the water so only his head was sticking out. His eyes were like a beast hunting its pray. I squealed as I attempted to run from him toward the deep in and with his massive body he thrust forward growling as he swam to chase me.